What happened to the new converts Paul won out of pagan idolatry?
The new converts Paul won out of pagan idolatry came into a salvation experience and almost immediately had to be martyred for their faith. They had not been saturated for 50 years in Christianity like later believers, yet they faced martyrdom soon after conversion.
Les explains that Paul labored in regions characterized by gross idolatry and mythology, and from that gross, immoral, pagan world he gained trophies for God's grace. The new converts of Paul's gospel came out of all the license and immorality of pagan worship of gods and goddesses, entered a salvation experience, and almost immediately had to be martyred for their faith. They had not been saturated for 50 years in Christianity like later believers, yet they were called to give their lives for the faith soon after believing.