A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

52 2 Early History of Christianity
Lactantius,
The Manner
in which the
Persecutors
died, ii.
Date of the
crucifixion,
March 23,
29 A.D.
Elsewhere
the day of
the month is
diSerently
stated. Possibly
the
report of
Pontius
Pilate gave
Lactantius
his information.
The apostles.
tenth of the Calends of April, as I find it written, Jesua
Christ was crucified by the Jews.
After He had risen again
on the third day, He gathered His apostles, whom fear
at the time of His arrest had put to fhght; and while He
sojourned with them forty days. He opened their hearts,
interpreted to them the Scripture, which hitherto had been
wrapped in obscurity, ordained and fitted them for the
preaching of His word and doctrine, and regulated all
things concerning the institutions of the New Testament.
When this was accomplished, a cloud and whirlwind enveloped
Him and caught him up from the sight of men
into heaven.
His apostles were at that time eleven in number, to
whom were added Matthias, in place of the traitor Judas,
and afterward Paul. Then were they dispersed throughout
all the earth to preach the Gospel, as the Lord their
During twenty-five years,
Master had commanded them.
until the beginning of the reign of the emperor Nero, they
occupied themselves in laying the foundations of the
Church in every province and city. And while Nero ruled,
the Apostle Peter came to Rome, and through the power
of God committed unto him, wrought certain miracles;
and by turning many to the true religion,
faithful and steadfast temple unto the Lord.
he built up a
III.
Persecution of the Christians by Nero
The charge
brought
against
them.
Tacitus, Annals,
XV. 44.
To get rid of the report (that he had ordered the fire),
Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite
tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called
Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the
name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during
the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators,
Pontius Pilate, and a most mischievous superstition,