4. καὶγὰρὅτεπρὸςὑμᾶςκτλ.] ‘ For in addition to other considerations when we were with you’—‘γὰρ introducing the reason, καὶ throwing stress upon it’ (Ellic.). Πρός is here construed with the acc. even after a verb of rest in accordance with its prevailing use in the N.T. (c. Genesis 1, dat. 6, acc. 679, Moulton Prolegg. p. 106). Προλέγειν is sometimes understood in the sense of ‘ tell openly or plainly,’ but the ordinary predictive force of προ- (Vg. praedicebamus) is more in harmony With the following clause: cf. 2 Corinthians 13:2, Galatians 5:21. ὅτιμέλλομενθλίβεσθαι] ‘ that we are to suffer persecution’—ὅτι introducing the substance of what the Apostles foretold, and μέλλομεν (c. pres. inf. as almost always in N.T.) bringing out its Divinely-appointed character: cf. Romans 8:13; Romans 8:18, Galatians 3:23. A striking parallel both in thought and expression to the whole passage is afforded by Acts 14:22 where Paul and Barnabas are described as ἐπιστηρίζοντεςτὰςψυχὰςτῶνμαθητῶν, παρακαλοῦντεςἐμμένειντῇπίστεικαὶὅτιδιὰπολλῶνθλίψεωνδεῖἡμᾶςεἰσελθεῖνεἰςτὴνβασιλείαντοῦθεοῦ.