Paul says that two things have happened because of "the progress of the gospel": many people inside and outside the palace have found out why he is in prison, and other Christians are no longer afraid to proclaim the good news.
Here this means fellow Christians, including both men and women, because all believers in Christ are members of one spiritual family, with God as their heavenly Father.
Paul is talking about his time in prison. Alternate translation: "what I suffered because I was put into prison for preaching about Jesus" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit]])