1) Throughout the Roman Empire, people worshipped a vast variety of gods from different cultures and religions. The Romans accepted foreign gods and did not demand exclusive worship. 2) Early Christians were persecuted for refusing to sacrifice to the gods of Rome or worship the Roman emperor. The book of Acts portrays the pagan religious atmosphere surrounding early Christianity. 3) When the apostle Paul preached in cities of the Roman Empire, he encountered people who practiced divination, mistook him for Greek gods, and worshipped a variety of deities. Christians had to be on guard against influences that could corrupt their pure worship of God.