{Imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea}
(mim(8874)ai t(936e) ekkl(8873)i(936e) tou theou t(936e) ous(936e) en t(8869) Ioudai(8369)). On
mim(8874)ai see on 氣:5|. "This passage, implying an affectionate
admiration of the Jewish churches on the part of St. Paul, and
thus entirely bearing out the impression produced by the
narrative in the Acts, is entirely subversive of the theory
maintained by some and based on a misconception of  Ga 2 , and by
the fiction of the Pseudo-Clementines, of the feud existing
between St. Paul and the Twelve" (Lightfoot). {In Christ Jesus}
(en Christ(9369) I(8873)ou). It takes this to make a _Christian_ church
of God. Note order here {Christ Jesus} as compared with {Jesus
Christ} in  1:1,3 . {Ye also--even as they} (kai humeis--kai
autoi). Note kai twice (correlative use of kai).
{Countrymen} (sumphulet(936e)). Fellow-countrymen or tribesmen.
Late word that refers primarily to Gentiles who no doubt joined
the Jews in Thessalonica who instigated the attacks on Paul and
Silas so that it "was taken up by the native population, without
whose co-operation it would have been powerless" (Lightfoot).
{Own} (idi(936e)) here has apparently a weakened force. Note hupo
here with the ablative both with sumphulet(936e) and Ioudai(936e)
after the intransitive epathete (suffered). The persecution of
the Christians by the Jews in Judea was known everywhere.