In July 64AD a great fire broke out in Rome destroying around three quarters of the city. The dense nature of the city meant fires like this would be inevitable. There were however suspicions that Nero himself had started the fire with the aim of expanding his building projects. This owed mainly to the speed he set about rebuilding and in the process re-designing the layout of Rome. Whether to allay suspicion or whether they were simply an easy target, Nero blamed the fire on the Christians. Nero’s disposition to Christians had clearly changed for reasons unknown. Only a couple of years earlier he had personally acquitted Paul of any capital charge and let him go free. Through Paul appealing to Caesar, Nero would have become aware of Christianity if he had not already been before. It also appears that soldiers of his Praetorian Guard and members of his own household (likely servants) had become Christians during Paul’s time in Rome (Philippians 1:12-14, 4:22).
We’re told by Suetonius that punishment was inflicted on the Christians who are described as men given over to a new and mischievous superstition (De Vita Caesarum: Nero, 16.2). Tacitus makes clear that this punishment was carried out following the fire. Those who confessed to being Christians were arrested and subjected to torture and death. The Christians were hated by the Romans and considered abominations. Though the fire was the initial pretence it appears that Nero’s targeting of the Christians was irrespective of whether they had any involvement real or imagined. Nero didn’t simply have them executed but made a total spectacle of their deaths. Some were crucified and others were burned. Some were covered in animal skins and put in the arena to be torn apart by wild dogs. Most strikingly Nero offered up his gardens where he had Christians turned into human torches to illuminate the night. Such was the extreme and cruel nature of the punishments that the people felt pity for the Christians even if they agreed they deserved death (Tacitus, Annals15.44).
Around this time Simon Peter was still in Rome and was caught up in the persecution. Not being a Roman Citizen Peter was crucified on Vatican Hill outside the city where he was subsequently buried. A later tradition held that Peter refused to be killed in the same manner as his Lord and therefore insisted that he be crucified upside down. This however is most unlikely and almost certainly didn’t happen. Jesus himself had already indicated the manner in which Peter would die and Peter was happy to embrace his fate (John 21:18-19).The site of Peter’s burial on Vatican Hill would be revered by Christians. Later the Emperor Constantine who converted to Christianity would build St Peter’s Basilica on the very site.
Christianity had faced persecution before mostly from certain Jews and local Gentile populations. The persecution of Nero however was the first to come top down from the state. The extent of the persecution was likely localised to Rome and it is unclear how long it lasted. Whether the persecutions continued through the rest of Nero’s reign or whether Nero had a clear policy concerning Christians going forward is unknown. However his disposition towards Christians would not have changed. At a later point Paul would also be arrested and brought to Rome, though it is likely that Paul’s arrest was some years after the fire.
Whereas Peter was in Rome during the persecution Paul was in Asia Minor(Western Turkey). Now Paul having left Ephesus travelled around the Aegean visiting Miletus, Corinth, Macedonia and Troas. It was Troas where he left his cloak, books and parchments with Carpus. At this time he was travelling with Luke and many of his fellow workers for the gospel. Trophimus had fallen sick and was left at Miletus with Erastus remaining at Corinth and Titus leaving for Dalmatia. Paul had preached the gospel all the way to Illyricum so Titus was either strengthening an existing church or planting a new one. Crescens on the other Paul had sent to the church in Galatia (2 Timothy 4:9-20). Somewhere during his travels Paul was arrested on a capital charge and eventually brought to Rome. Those who were with him from Asia then deserted him which included both Phygellos and Hermogenes (2 Timothy 1:15). Whether at this point or previously Demas also had abandoned the ministry and taken himself to Thessalonica. This left only Luke and Tychicus who remained with Paul.
Paul was brought to Rome and given a public trial where he made his first defence before the city prefect (2 Timothy 4:16). At this time he was left without representation, however in spite of this he boldly proclaimed the gospel, even though he knew he would be condemned to death. The charges are not clear, but it is most certainly on account of being a prominent Christian and may have been a continuation of Nero’s persecution. Paul was then taken to the notorious Mamertine Prison. This was a dungeon in the lower levels of the Tullianum prison in Rome. A prisoner would be lowered down through an opening in the floor, into the dungeon, where there was little light and an open sewer. Often in Roman prisons, prisoners would barely be provided with enough food or water to live. As a result, it was not uncommon for people to die in prison from sickness or starvation and for the Romans this was a convenient result. However prisoners would occasionally be allowed to receive support from friends of relatives. Whilst Paul was in prison Onesiphorus arrived in Rome and came to bring him provisions. Having heard of his imprisonment Onesiphorus had travelled all the way from Ephesus to seek him out and bring him aid for which Paul is most appreciative (2 Timothy 1:16-18). At this point Paul knows he won’t be released like last time and wants to see Timothy before he dies. He therefore sends Tychicus to Ephesus with a letter to Timothy who he views as his disciple and successor. This letter is known as 2 Timothy. Timothy is to make all haste to come to Rome but on his way he is to travel via Troas to pickup Paul’s belongings from Carpus. He is also to bring John Mark with him who Paul thinks will be useful to his ministry.
In addition to Luke are those from the Roman church who support Paul during his imprisonment. These are Eubulus, Pudens, Linus and Claudia (2 Timothy 4:21). Tradition holds that Linus was the leader of the church in Rome at the time. When Paul writes his final letter to Timothy winter is approaching. Paul was held in prison for some time before he was executed, though it is unknown if he saw Timothy before he died. Paul was sentenced to death but being a Roman Citizen he could not be crucified. He was therefore beheaded outside the city and buried on the Ostian Way.
The persecution of Nero was the first by a Roman Emperor against the Christians but not the last. Nero claimed the lives of many Christians in Rome including Peter and Paul. In spite of their deaths the church in Rome would continue to grow and the early church would flourish throughout the Empire. The end of Nero’s reign saw increasing discontent with his rule and led to open rebellion. Nero would go on to commit suicide on the 9th of June 68AD a little under 4 years since the Great Fire of Rome. Nero's Dynasty would come to an end but Christ's Church would prevail.