1Thessalonians 2:14-18 For you, brethren, became followers of the churches [congregations] of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for you also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost. But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire. Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but satan hindered us.
‘For you also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews.’ Both Jews and Gentiles suffered persecution from their own countrymen. The Jews were the persecutors of the congregations everywhere. Among the Gentiles they caused the heathen to be stirred up against Christianity (Acts 13:6, 45, 50; 14:2, 5, 19; 15:1-2, 5; 16:3; 17:5, 13; 18:5-6).
‘Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us, and they please not God, and are contrary to all men.’ Seven sins of the Jews: They killed Jesus Christ (2:15; Matt. 2:23). They killed their own prophets (2:15; Matt. 23:1-39). They persecuted believers. They lived contrary to God (2:15; Acts 7:51). They were contrary to all people (2:15; Matt. 23:1-39). They opposed the salvation of others (2:16). They multiplied sins continually (2:16).
‘For the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.’ For the seven sins (2:15) wrath comes upon them to the uttermost (Lev. 26:1-46; Deut. 28:1-68; 32:1-52; Matt. 23:34-39; Luke 21:20-24; Rom. 11:1-36).
‘Being taken’ [Greek: aporphanizomai] having been bereaved. Paul had compared himself to a parent and the people to his beloved children (2:7, 11). Here he represented himself as feeling what an affectionate father would feel if torn from his children. Because of this, he endeavoured to see them all the more. He would have seen them time and time again if satan had not hindered him (2:18).
‘Hindered’ [Greek: engkopto] Translated hinder (2:18; Rom. 15:22) and be tedious unto (Acts 24:4).
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