The particulars about the martyrdom of these 17 Africans have been lost.
Conversion is possible.
Asterius was a heretic Arian who converted and became bishop of Petra in Arabia. He earned the hatred of his former co-religionists by publishing the story of their intrigues at the Council of Sardica in 347. He was banished to Libya by Constantius and recalled by Julian the Apostate. Asterius took part in the Council of Alexandria in 362, and was chosen to be the bearer of letter from the council to the Church of Antioch. A group of 23 Christians martyred at Rome on the Aurelian Way under Aurelian.