Had his trial been longer deferred, or had he from any cause been detained in Rome during the following year, he would have perished in the dreadful persecution which then took place. The converts to Christianity had become so numerous during Paul’s imprisonment as to attract the attention and arouse the enmity of the authorities. The ire of the emperor was especially excited by the conversion of members of his own household; he still thirsted for blood, and soon found a pretext to make the Christians the objects of his merciless cruelty. A terrible fire about this time occurred in Rome, by which nearly one-half the city was consumed. Nero himself caused the flames to be kindled, and then, to avert suspicion, he made a pretense of great generosity in assisting the homeless and destitute. He was, however, accused of the crime. The people were excited and enraged, and Nero determined to clear himself, and also to rid the city of a class whom he feared and hated, by charging the act upon the Christians. {LP 302.4}

Var hans rettergang udsudt længere, eller var han af en eller anden grund opholdt i Rom i det efterfølgende år, ville han havde gået til i den skæbnesvangre forfølgelse som fandt sted. De nyomvendte til kristendommen var blevet så talrige, under Paulus fængsling, som tiltrak og vækkede myndighedens fjenders opmærksomhed. Kejserens vrede var særlig imod omvendelsen af dem i hans eget hus; han tørstede stadig efter blod, og fandt hurtig en forskrift for at gøre de kristne til genstand for hans nådesløse grusomhed. En frygtelig brand opstod på det tidspunkt i Rom, hvor næsten det halve af byen blev ødelagt. Nero fik selv flammerne til at tænde op, og for at bortlede mistanker, foregav han en stor ædelmodighed ved at hjælpe den hjemløse og nødlidende. Han blev dog anklaget for forbrydelsen. Folk var ophidsende og rasende, og Nero besluttede at afklare sig selv, og også befri byen for en klasse, han var bange for og hadede, og tilskrive de kristne denne handling.