First Century Persecution (Before AD 100)

Context: Localized Antagonism

Opposition to early Christians in the first century (the New Testament period) was generally localized and sporadic, often manifesting as social antagonism, imprisonment, and seizure of property. Widespread, empire-wide persecution was a phenomenon of later centuries (e.g., under Decius, Valerian, and Diocletian).

Emperor Claudius (c. AD 49-50): The Expulsion

A key event reflecting early governmental intervention was the expulsion of Jews from Rome under Emperor Claudius (reigned AD 41–54). This action is corroborated by both Christian and Roman sources.

The Primary Source: Suetonius

Claudius expelled Jews from Rome for disturbances “at the instigation of Chrestus.” (Suetonius, Claudius 25)

Most scholars interpret "Chrestus" as a variant spelling or misunderstanding of Christus (Christ) by the Roman historian Suetonius. This suggests the civil unrest was caused by tensions within the Jewish community—specifically, violent disputes between traditional Jews and those who believed Jesus was the Messiah.

The Biblical Corroboration

The Book of Acts confirms the historical event. When Paul arrived in Corinth, he met Aquila and Priscilla, a Jewish Christian couple, who had recently fled Italy:

"There he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome." (Acts 18:2, ESV)

Consequence for the Roman Church

Dated around AD 49-50, this mass expulsion of Jewish believers and non-believers drastically altered the composition of the earliest Roman Christian congregations, shifting them demographically toward remaining Gentile members until the Jews were allowed to return (likely after Claudius's death in AD 54).

Emperor Nero (AD 64): The Great Fire

Following the Great Fire of Rome in AD 64, Nero sought a scapegoat and laid the blame on Christians, initiating a severe, though localized, persecution.

  • Brutal Executions: Christians were executed in horrible ways, including being burned alive on crosses to serve as nighttime illumination.
  • Apostolic Martyrs: The apostles Peter and Paul are traditionally believed to have been martyred during this period in Rome.
  • Geographic Scope: Crucially, Nero's persecution was largely confined to the city of Rome itself.

Emperor Domitian (AD 81–96)

Toward the end of the first century, Emperor Domitian oversaw renewed persecution targeting both Jews and Christians, primarily driven by Jewish opposition to specific Roman taxation imposed on their religion.

Root Causes of Roman Opposition

Political and Religious Threats:

  • Atheism: Refusal to worship the Roman gods or the Imperial Cult was seen as endangering the empire and inciting divine anger, leading to charges of "atheism."
  • Revolutionary Motives: Denial of sacrifice to the Emperor (the Imperial Cult) was viewed as signaling a lack of political allegiance to Rome.
  • Social Alienation: Christian abandonment of pagan worship was disruptive, as Roman festivals, family events, and guilds were interwoven with pagan religious rituals.

Common Hardships (NT Accounts)

Beyond executions, most early believers faced ongoing, daily humiliation and antagonism from their neighbors. Official responses included: