For you yourselves know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a waste of time.

That is why we wanted to come to you. Certainly I, Paul, wanted to come time and again, but Satan blocked our way.

In fact, when we were with you, we told you ahead of time that we were going to suffer persecution. And as you know, that is what happened.

But when I could stand it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out about your faith. I was afraid that the tempter had tempted you in some way, and that our work had been a waste of time.