I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
Ver. 2. I know thy works and thy labour] Not thy works only, but thy labour in doing them, and what ends thou puttest upon them. How accurately did our Saviour cast up and count how long the multitude had been with him, how little they had to eat, how ill it would fare with them if sent away fasting, &c., Matthew 15:32 .
And how thou canst not bear] Moved with a zeal of God, and having a stomach for him. Mihi sane Auxentius nunquam aliud quam diabolus erit, quia Arianus, saith Hilary: I shall look upon Auxentius as upon a devil, so long as he is an Arian.