But now in Christ Jesus you who used to be far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, when you received the message with joy that comes from the Holy Spirit, despite great affliction.

with such affection for you we were happy to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.

like Sarah who obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You become her children when you do what is good and have no fear in doing so.

For you became imitators, brothers and sisters, of God’s churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, because you too suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they in fact did from the Jews,