And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
And ye - answering to "For our gospel" (1 Thessalonians 1:5).
Followers - Greek, 'imitators.' The Thessalonians in their turn became "ensamples" (1 Thessalonians 1:7) for others to imitate.
Of the Lord - the apostle of the Father: who taught the Word, which he brought from heaven, under adversities (Bengel): the point in which they imitated Him and His apostles, joyful acceptance and witness for the word in much affliction: the second proof of their election of God (1 Thessalonians 1:4); 1 Thessalonians 1:5 is the first (see note, 1 Thessalonians 1:5).
Received, [believingly accepted: dexamenoi (G1209); not merely paralabontes (G3880), 1 Thessalonians 2:13]
The word in much affliction (1 Thessalonians 2:14; 1 Thessalonians 3:2-5; Acts 17:5-10).
Joy of - i:e., performed by "the Holy Spirit." "The oil of gladness" wherewith the Son of God was 'anointed above His fellows' (Ps. 45:71), is the same with which He, by the Spirit, anoints His fellows too (Isaiah 61:1; Isaiah 61:3; Romans 14:17; 1 John 2:20; 1 John 2:27).