And ye became imitators of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit;

And you became imitators of us and of the Lord when you welcomed the message with the joy of the Holy Spirit, in spite of your great suffering.

and ye--ye did become imitators of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation, with joy of the Holy Spirit,

and ye became our imitators, and of the Lord, having accepted the word in much tribulation with joy of [the] Holy Spirit,