They were ready to be saved
A marvelous mystery, how they can be brought to readiness for salvation while appearing to others as though it were impossible.
I spent a couple of days this week discussing the gospel with an ardent unbeliever, who argued vehemently against it. And the very force of his arguments betrayed how frantically he was fighting against the strong pull of the truth. Unlike our two taxmen, he is not yet ready--but he is getting closer. On average, people need to hear the Gospel six or eight times before they will finally believe, and he heard it again this week.