NERO (ne'ro), (2 Tim., subscription), a Roman emperor, born at Antium, probably December f5, A. I). 37 was the son of Cneius Domitius Alieno barbus by Agrippina, the sister of Caligula, his original name being Lucius Domitius Ahenobar bus.
in the first part of his reign lie showed great clemency and justice, pretending to copy after Augustus. 1 n the end of it he became one of the most tyrannical and licentious wretches that ever breathed. He murdered his mother, and almost all his friends and principal subjects. He was the great patron of all fooleries and debaucheries. He is not named in Scripture; but he is indicated by his title of emperor, and by his surname Cmsar. To him St. Paul appealed after his imprisonment by Felix, and his examination by Festus, who was swayed by the Jews. St. Paul was therefore carried to Rome, where he arrived A. D. 61. Here he continued two years, preaching the gospel with freedom, till he became famous even in the em peror's court, in which were many Christians; for he salutes the Philippians in the name of the brethren who were of the household of Csar, that is, of Nero's court (Phil. 13 ; iV :22). We have no particular information how he cleared himself from the accusations of the Jews, whether by- answering before Nero, or whether his ene mies dropped their prosecutions, which seems probable (Acts xxviii :2t). However, it appears that he was liberated in the year 63.
Nero, the most cruel and savage of all men, and also the most wicked and depraved, began his persecution against the Christian church A. D. 64, on pretense of the burning of Rome, of which some have thought himself to be the author. He endeavored to throw all the odium on the Christians; those were seized first that were known publicly as such, and by their means many others were discovered. They were condemned
to death, and were even insulted in their suf ferings. Some were sewed up in the skins of beasts, and then exposed to dogs to be torn in pieces •, some were nailed to crosses ; others perished by fire. The latter were sewed up in pitched coverings, which, being set on fire, served as torches to the people, and were lighted up in the night. Nero gave leave to use his own gardens as the scene of all these cruelties. From this time edicts were published against the Chris tians, and many martyrs suffered, especially in Italy. St. Peter and St. Paul are thought to have suffered martyrdom, consequent on this persecu tion, A. D. 65.
The revolt of the Jews from the Romans hap pened about A. D. 65 and 66, in the twelfth and thirteenth of Nero. The city of Jerusalem mak in,g an insurrection, A. D. 66, Florus there slew 3,600 persons, and thus began the war. A little while afterwards, those of Jerusalem killed the Roman garrison. Cestius on this came to Jeru salem to suppress the sedition ; but he was forced to retire after having besieged it about six weeks, and was routed in his retreat, A. D. 66. About the end of the sante year, Nero gave Vespasian the command of his troops against the Jews. This general carried on the war in Galilee and Judea during A. D. 67 and 68, the thirteenth and four teenth of Nero. But Nero killing himself in the fourteenth year of his reign, Jerusalem was not besieged till after his death, A. D. 7o, the first and second years of Vespasian's reign.