In Rome from 17 A. D. to 69 A. D. the Julio-Claudian dynasty began. It began under the rule of Tiberius from (17-37). During Tiberius' reign Pontius Pilate condemned Jesus of Nazareth to Death in the Roman province of Judea created from the Jewish Kingdom Judah. Jesus of Nazareth, the son of God according to Christianity, was alive during a troubled period when Roman rule aroused feelings of anger. This feeling of anger in Judaea was an idle setting for the ministering of Jesus (Holmes 68). The Christians were believed to have been conspiring against the Roman Government and were therefore persecuted by governors and local authorities, bu

New York: Hurst & Co. publishers, 1964.

The third century marked a period of political instability, military crisis, economic crisis, and social upheaval (Whatmough 322). In 249 Decius was appointed emperor of Rome after defeating and killing King Phillip at a battle in Lower Danube. Attempting to restore the stability of Rome, and the virtues of old Rome, he commanded " all citizens of the empire demonstrate their loyalty to state gods and his divine reign through public sacrifice" (Blois 227). Decius then set up sacrificial commissions that were to record all records of those citizens who performed sacrifices. The citizens that refused to participate were considered a threat to religious unity in the Roman Empire. Those who did not cooperate were subject to arrest, imprisonment, and execution. In the establishment of these rules Decius began Rome's first general persecution of Christians. At this point in time there were Christians at all social class levels. Decius persecution had a devastating impact on the Christian community. Many Christians recanted and performed the sacrifices, many others bought false documents and to avoid persecution, others fled.(Joy 154) Those who did refuse to perform the sacrifices were imprisoned, tortured, and eventually executed. Decius was also battling against the Goths in lower Danube during this persecution of Christians. In the summer of 251 Decius was killed in a battle against the Goths. This ended the general persecution of Christians in that period of time.

Holmes, Rice T. The Roman Republic and the founder of the

Nero was the Roman Emperor from 54-68 A. D. He blamed the Christians in Rome for a furious fire that started at Circus Maximus and lasted for nine days. He used the Christians

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