Paul before Nero—how striking the contrast! The very height of earthly power, authority, and wealth, as well as the lowest depths of crime and iniquity, had been reached by the haughty monarch before whom the man of God answered for his faith. In his power and greatness, Nero stood unrivaled, unapproached. There were none to question his authority, none to resist his will. The kings of the earth laid their crowns at his feet. The most powerful armies marched at his command. The ensigns of his navies upon the seas betokened victory. His statue was set up in the halls of justice, and the decrees of senators and the decisions of judges were but the echo of his will. Millions of subjects bowed in obedience to his mandates. The name of Nero made the world tremble. To incur his displeasure was to lose property, liberty, and life. His frown was more to be dreaded than the pestilence. Yet while surrounded by all the outward semblance of earthly pomp and greatness, adored and reverenced as a God in human form, he possessed the heart of a demon.{LP 311.2}

Paulus for Nero! Hvilken slående modsætning! Den hovmodige monark, over for hvem Guds mand skulle stå til regnskab for sin tro, havde nået højdepunktet af sin jordiske magt, myndighed og rigdom såvel som de største dybder af forbrydelser og last. I magt og vælde var han uden lige. Der fandtes ingen, der kunne bestride hans autoritet, ingen, der kunne sætte sig op mod hans vilje. Konger lagde deres kroner for hans fod. På hans bud marcherede mægtige hære og synet af hans flåder varslede sejr. Hans statue var rejst i retssalene og senatorernes love og dommernes afgørelser var kun et ekko af hans vilje. Millioner bøjede sig i lydighed for hans befalinger. Neros navn fik verden til at skælve. At vække hans mishag var ensbetydende med tabet af ens ejendom, frihed og liv og en panderynken fra ham var mere frygtindgydende end pesten. Selvom han stadig var omgivet af al det ydre skin af jordisk pomp og storhed, besmykket og beæret som en Gud i menneskelig form, havde han en dæmons hjerte.