The persecution in the reign of Nero is immediately traceable to the accusation brought against the Christians by the emperor, that they had caused the terrible fire at Rome, which there seems little doubt was in reality the result of his own wanton wickedness, whilst that under Domitian appears to have been connected with the conversion of some of the members of his own family, his cousin Flavius Clemens being the first martyr sacrificed in it.
Section 2. _Number and Duration of Persecutions._
The following table[2] will show how the early days of the Church were divided between times of persecution and intervals of rest.
_Chronological Table of Persecutions and Intervals of Rest._
64-68. Persecution under Nero. Martyrdom of St. Peter and St. Paul.
95-96. Persecution under Domitian. Banishment of St. John.
104-117. Persecution under Trajan. Martyrdom of St. Ignatius.
117-161. Time of peace. Apologies of Aristides, Quadratus, and Justin Martyr.
161-180. Persecution under Marcus Aurelius. Martyrdom of St. Polycarp, and the martyrs of Lyons.
200-211. Persecution under Severus. Martyrdom of St. Perpetua and others in Africa.
211-250. Time of peace, excepting-- 235-237. Partial persecution under Maximinus.
250-253. Persecution under Decius. Martyrdom of St. Fabian.
253-257 Time of peace. Disputes concerning the _lapsed_.
257-260. Persecution under Valerian. Martyrdom of St. Cyprian.
260-303. Time of peace, excepting-- 262. Persecution in the East under Macrianus. 275. Persecution threatened by Aurelian.
303-313. Persecution under Dioclesian, Galerius, and Maximinus.
Section 3. _Nature and Extent of Persecutions._
Words can hardly be found strong enough to express the many and varied tortures which were inflicted on the Christians of the Primitive Church by their heathen countrymen. Death itself seemed too slight a punishment in the eyes of these cruel persecutors, unless it was preceded and accompanied by the most painful and trying circumstances. It was by crucifixion, and devouring beasts, and lingering fiery torments that the great multitude of those early martyrs received their crown. Racked and scorched, lacerated and torn limb from limb, agonized in body, mocked at and insulted, they were objects of pity even to the heathen themselves. Persecuting malice spared neither sex nor age, station nor character; the old man and the tender child, the patrician and the slave, the bishop and his flock, all shed their blood for Him Who had died for them, rather than deny their Lord.