Answer:
D) The work of missionaries, like Saint Paul.
Step-by-step explanation:
Christians were persecuted and murdered because of their faith before the coronation of Constantine as Roman Emperor. He made toleration of Christianity an official policy of the empire and after his death, the Christian faith became the official imperial religion. Before Constantine, the truths of Christ were spread by Jesus´Apostles first, then by missionaries, who managed to multiply the number of followers of the new religion.