64 AD: The Fire of Rome, Nero, and the First Christian Persecution

In 64 AD, a catastrophic fire burned for six days and devastated the city of Rome. As panic spread and public anger turned toward Emperor Nero, blame fell on a small and misunderstood religious group: Christians.

In this episode of Christian History, we explore what really happened during the Great Fire of Rome, how Nero responded, why Christians became convenient scapegoats, and how this moment triggered the first state-sponsored persecution of the early church. We examine ancient sources, the executions that followed, and the traditional deaths of Peter and Paul—along with the political and cultural forces that shaped Rome’s reaction.

This is the story of fear, power, and how a movement Rome tried to destroy only grew stronger.