[Salvation]

Continued: Christian martyrs of Rome
The Early Christians of Rome

Who were the early Roman Christians? Most of them came from the large community of about 50,000 Jewish merchants and slaves who had strong ties to their mother city of Jerusalem. Even before Peter and Paul arrived in Rome, Jewish-Christians, clearly identified as followers of Jesus Christ, were found among the city's Jews. Indeed, these were the founders of the church at Rome; the apostles were among its foundation stones.

By the time of the fire Rome's Jewish-Christians had become alienated from the larger Jewish community and were beginning to separate from it. Where they lived and met was well known. The authorities, following the usual procedure, seized some of them, brought them to the Prefecture and forced them by torture to give the names of others.

"First, Nero had some of the members of this sect arrested. Then, on their information, large numbers were condemned -- not so much for arson, but for their hatred of the human race. Their deaths were made a farce." (Tacitus)

Mass Executions

Instead of executing the Christians immediately at the usual place, Nero executed them publicly in his gardens nearby and in the circus. "Mockery of every sort accompanied their deaths. Covered with the skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and burnt, to serve as a nightly illumination, when daylight had expired." (Tacitus)

Most thought Nero went too far. "There arose in the people a sense of pity. For it was felt that they (the Christians) were being sacrificed for one man's brutality rather than to the public interest." (Tacitus)

 

next: martyrdom of Peter and Paul

[Salvation]

Continued: Christian martyrs of Rome
Martrydom of Peter and Paul

Late in the persecution, the apostles Peter and Paul, were martyred. An unquestioned tradition among early Christian communities -- affirmed today by many historians and archeologists -- says that Peter met his death at Nero's circus on the Vatican and Paul was beheaded along the Via Ostia near the place where Constantine later built a church in his honor. Details of their martyrdom are unknown, but like others they must have been arrested, put in chains, questioned, and sentenced before being executed.

There are later legends, of course. One says they were imprisoned in the Mamertime Prison, near the Capitoline Hill, where they converted and baptized their jailers. Peter escaped and fled along the Via Appia until he reached the place where the chapel, Domine, Quo Vadis? now stands. There he met Jesus coming into the city. "Where are you going, Lord?" Peter asked. When Jesus told him he was going to join those suffering, the apostle turned to embrace the same fate.

The Ordeal of a Frightened Church

Legends like these have dubious historical value, but do they suggest something about the early persecution?

The Christians of Rome, considered part of the city's Jewish community in the middle of the 1st century, enjoyed the extensive privileges bestowed on the Jews by the Romans at that time; they must have felt safe and secure, until Nero's arbitrary attack. Their troubles with Claudius around 49 were only minor. How shocking Nero's sudden blow! Certainly brave martyrs emerged in the persecution, but in those chaotic days how many wavered or fell?

One wonders if the story of a frightened Peter, fleeing in fear, then regaining strength for his ordeal, was a lesson in hope for Christians who, taken by surprise, wavered, fled in terror, denied and betrayed?

next: words for a persecuted Church