1 Thessalonians 1:3-8

3remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father; 4knowing, brethren beloved of God, your election, 5how that our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance; even as ye know what manner of men we showed ourselves toward you for your sake. 6And ye became imitators of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit; 7so that ye became an ensample to all that believe in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8For from you hath sounded forth the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith to God-ward is gone forth; so that we need not to speak anything.