"The Persecution of early Christians in the Roman Empire" Christian persecution was a dramatic part of early church history. Christian persecution started with Jesus himself. He was asked directly at trial, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" His first two words were "I am." The religious leaders in Jerusalem knew what Jesus was saying. It was very clear to them that He was claiming to be God. Jesus was put to …showed first 75 words of 791 total…

…showed last 75 words of 791 total…in front of Serapis. It appears Peter was condemned to death and crucified at Rome. Jerome holds that Peter was crucified upside down, at his own request, because he said he was unworthy to be crucified in the same manner as his Lord. Paul suffered in the first persecution under Nero. Paul's faith was so dramatic in the face of martyrdom, that the authorities removed him to a private place for execution by the sword.