Grouping broadly how people reacted towards a new Messenger from God – Baha’u’llah explains

No sooner had He proclaimed Thy Cause, and risen up to carry out the things prescribed unto Him in the Tablets of Thy decree, than the Great Terror fell upon Thy creatures.

• Some turned towards Thee, and detached themselves from all except Thee, and sanctified their souls from the world and all that is therein, and were so enravished by the sweetness of Thy voice that they forsook all Thou hadst created in the kingdom of Thy creation.
• Others recognized Thee and then hesitated,
• others allowed the world to come in between them and Thee and to withhold them from recognizing Thee.
• Others disdained Thee, and turned back from Thee, and wished to prevent Thee from achieving Thy purpose.

And yet behold how all of them are calling upon Thee, and are expecting the things they were promised in Thy Tablets. 
- Baha’u’llah  (‘Prayers and Meditations by Baha’u’llah’)