Paul had little reason to hope for justice from the Caesar to whom he had appealed. Nero was more debased in morals, more frivolous in character, and at the same time capable of more atrocious cruelty, than any ruler who had preceded him. The reins of government could not have been intrusted to a more inhuman despot. The first year of his reign had been marked by the poisoning of his young step-brother, who was the rightful heir to the throne. He had steadily descended from one depth of vice and crime to another, until he had murdered his own mother, and then his wife. There was no atrocity which he would not perpetrate, no vile act to which he would not stoop. In every noble mind he inspired abhorrence and contempt. {LP 301.3}

Paulus havde kun lille grund til at håbe på retfærdighed fra den Kejser han havde appelleret til. Nero var lavere i moral, mere overfladisk i karakter, og samtidig kan han være meget grusom, end nogen anden hersker før ham. Regeringens tøjler kunne ikke styres af en mere inhuman despot. Det første år i hans regering var præget af hans yngre stedbrors forgiftning, som var den retmæssige arving til tronen. Hårdnakket var han gået ned fra en ondt dyb og forbrydelse til et andet, indtil han havde myrdet sin egen bror, og så hans hustru. Der var ingen oprørende grusomhed som han ikke kunne forøve, ingen ond handling som han ikke ville stoppe. Hos alle ædelt tænkende mennesker ædelsind indgød han afsky og foragt.