Nero

The emperor (Caesar) of Rome who probably had Paul and Peter killed. He began as a good ruler in AD 54. Nero’s later rule of terror and cruelty began about AD 63. He had his own mother put to death, as well as some of his most trusted advisers. In AD 64, a large part of the city of Rome burned. Many thought that Nero had ordered the burning of the city. To draw suspicion away from himself, Nero accused the Christians of starting the fire. This became an excuse to begin a terrible persecution of Christians. Some were burned as torches in Nero’s own gardens; others were crucified or thrown to wild beasts. The Roman Senate finally decided that Nero should die. But before the death order could be carried out, Nero ordered many senators to be killed and then killed himself in AD 68.