You, brothers and sisters, were like the churches of God in Judea that are united with Christ Jesus. You suffered the same persecutions from the people of your own country as those churches did from the Jews who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and who have persecuted us severely. They are displeasing to God. They are enemies of the whole human race because they try to keep us from telling people who are not Jewish how they can be saved. As a result, they continue to heap up their sins to full capacity; the utmost wrath has come upon them. 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16