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=Persecution by the Roman Empire= | =Persecution by the Roman Empire= | ||
Christians were severely persecuted by | Christians were severely persecuted by the roman Empire between 64 AD and 313 AD. | ||
*The first direct collision between the Roman Government and the rising Christian sect appears to have taken place at Rome during the latter part of the reign of '''Nero''' around 64 AD. The cause of this first outbreak is a difficult and much disputed question. The traditional view is that Nero, who was accused of burning a large part of the city of Rome, in order to divert suspicion from himself, accused the Christians of setting fire to the city, and thus started the persecution. It appears that both Paul and Peter were martyred in Rome during the persecution of Nero, Peter being crucified head downward and Paul being beheaded.<ref>Leon Hardy Canfield, The Early Persecutions of the Christians, 2nd ed., vol. LV, Studies in History, Economics and Public Law (New York; London: Columbia University; Longmans, Green & Co.; P. S. King & Son, 1913), 43.</ref> | *The first direct collision between the Roman Government and the rising Christian sect appears to have taken place at Rome during the latter part of the reign of '''Nero''' around 64 AD. The cause of this first outbreak is a difficult and much disputed question. The traditional view is that Nero, who was accused of burning a large part of the city of Rome, in order to divert suspicion from himself, accused the Christians of setting fire to the city, and thus started the persecution. It appears that both Paul and Peter were martyred in Rome during the persecution of Nero, Peter being crucified head downward and Paul being beheaded.<ref>Leon Hardy Canfield, The Early Persecutions of the Christians, 2nd ed., vol. LV, Studies in History, Economics and Public Law (New York; London: Columbia University; Longmans, Green & Co.; P. S. King & Son, 1913), 43.</ref> |