The Emperor Nero is not named in Scripture; but he is indicated by
his title of emperor, and by his surname Cæsar. To him St. Paul appealed
after his imprisonment by Felix, and his examination by Festus, who was
swayed by the Jews. St. Paul was therefore carried to Rome, where he
arrived A. D. 61. Here he continued two years, preaching the Gospel with
freedom, till he became famous even in the emperor’s court, in which
were many Christians; for he salutes the Philippians in the name of the
brethren who were of the household of Cæsar, that is, of Nero’s court,
Phil. i, 12, 13; iv, 22. We have no particular information how he
cleared himself from the accusations of the Jews, whether by answering
before Nero, or whether his enemies dropped their prosecutions, which
seems probable, Acts xxviii, 21. However, it appears that he was
liberated in the year 63. Nero is reckoned the first persecutor of the
Christian church: his persecution was A. D. 64. Nero, the most cruel and
savage of all men, and also the most wicked and depraved, began his
persecution against the Christian church, A. D. 64, on pretence of the
burning of Rome, of which some have thought himself to be the author. He
endeavoured to throw all the odium on the Christians: those were seized
first that were known publicly as such, and by their means many others
were discovered. They were condemned to death, and were even insulted in
their sufferings. Some were sewed up in skins of beasts, and then
exposed to dogs to be torn in pieces; some were nailed to crosses;
others perished by fire. The latter were sewed up in pitched coverings,
which, being set on fire, served as torches to the people, and were
lighted up in the night. Nero gave leave to use his own gardens, as the
scene of all these cruelties. From this time edicts were published
against the Christians, and many martyrs suffered, especially in Italy.
St. Peter and St. Paul are thought to have suffered martyrdom,
consequent on this persecution, A. D. 65. The revolt of the Jews from
the Romans happened about A. D. 65 and 66, in the twelfth and thirteenth
of Nero. The city of Jerusalem making an insurrection, A. D. 66, Florus
there slew three thousand six hundred persons, and thus began the war. A
little while afterward, those of Jerusalem killed the Roman garrison.
Cestius on this came to Jerusalem to suppress the sedition; but he was
forced to retire, after having besieged it about six weeks, and was
routed in his retreat, A. D. 66. About the end of the same year, Nero
gave Vespasian the command of his troops against the Jews. This general
carried on the war in Galilee and Judea during A. D. 67 and 68, the
thirteenth and fourteenth of Nero. But Nero killing himself in the
fourteenth year of his reign, Jerusalem was not besieged till after his
death, A. D. 70, the first and second of Vespasian.
his title of emperor, and by his surname Cæsar. To him St. Paul appealed
after his imprisonment by Felix, and his examination by Festus, who was
swayed by the Jews. St. Paul was therefore carried to Rome, where he
arrived A. D. 61. Here he continued two years, preaching the Gospel with
freedom, till he became famous even in the emperor’s court, in which
were many Christians; for he salutes the Philippians in the name of the
brethren who were of the household of Cæsar, that is, of Nero’s court,
Phil. i, 12, 13; iv, 22. We have no particular information how he
cleared himself from the accusations of the Jews, whether by answering
before Nero, or whether his enemies dropped their prosecutions, which
seems probable, Acts xxviii, 21. However, it appears that he was
liberated in the year 63. Nero is reckoned the first persecutor of the
Christian church: his persecution was A. D. 64. Nero, the most cruel and
savage of all men, and also the most wicked and depraved, began his
persecution against the Christian church, A. D. 64, on pretence of the
burning of Rome, of which some have thought himself to be the author. He
endeavoured to throw all the odium on the Christians: those were seized
first that were known publicly as such, and by their means many others
were discovered. They were condemned to death, and were even insulted in
their sufferings. Some were sewed up in skins of beasts, and then
exposed to dogs to be torn in pieces; some were nailed to crosses;
others perished by fire. The latter were sewed up in pitched coverings,
which, being set on fire, served as torches to the people, and were
lighted up in the night. Nero gave leave to use his own gardens, as the
scene of all these cruelties. From this time edicts were published
against the Christians, and many martyrs suffered, especially in Italy.
St. Peter and St. Paul are thought to have suffered martyrdom,
consequent on this persecution, A. D. 65. The revolt of the Jews from
the Romans happened about A. D. 65 and 66, in the twelfth and thirteenth
of Nero. The city of Jerusalem making an insurrection, A. D. 66, Florus
there slew three thousand six hundred persons, and thus began the war. A
little while afterward, those of Jerusalem killed the Roman garrison.
Cestius on this came to Jerusalem to suppress the sedition; but he was
forced to retire, after having besieged it about six weeks, and was
routed in his retreat, A. D. 66. About the end of the same year, Nero
gave Vespasian the command of his troops against the Jews. This general
carried on the war in Galilee and Judea during A. D. 67 and 68, the
thirteenth and fourteenth of Nero. But Nero killing himself in the
fourteenth year of his reign, Jerusalem was not besieged till after his
death, A. D. 70, the first and second of Vespasian.