The first few years of Christianity in the Roman Empire were quite turbulent. The religion was not easily accepted and this meant that Christians were often persecuted and even executed. Moreover, the time period was one of great conflict, and leaders often looked for a scapegoat that could be blamed for these. Often, the Christians were the ones blamed, and this put them in an even more precarious position.
However, these conflicts also contributed to the rise of the religion. In times of conflict, people often look for alternatives that give them hope for the future. In the case of Christians, their belief in the afterlife made them more hopeful and resilient during times of trouble. This was an attractive feature that contributed to the rise of the religion.