Paul at Liberty
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absolute ruler of the whole civilized world. And more than this, he
was made the recipient of divine honors, and worshiped as a god.
From the stand-point of human judgment, Paul’s condemnation
before such a judge was certain. But the apostle felt that he had nothing
to fear, so long as he preserved his loyalty and his love to God. His
life was not in the hands of Nero, and if his work was not yet done,
the Roman emperor would be powerless to destroy him. He who had
hitherto been his protector could shield him still from the malice of
the Jews, and from the power of Caesar.
And God did shield his servant. At Paul’s examination the
charges against him were not sustained, and, contrary to the gen-
eral expectation,—with a regard for justice wholly at variance with his
character,—Nero declared the prisoner guiltless. Paul’s fetters were
struck off, and he was again a free man.
Had his trial been longer deferred, or had he from any cause been
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detained in Rome during the following year, he would have perished
in the dreadful persecution which then took place. The converts to
Christianity had become so numerous during Paul’s imprisonment as
to attract the attention and arouse the enmity of the authorities. The ire
of the emperor was especially excited by the conversion of members of
his own household; he still thirsted for blood, and soon found a pretext
to make the Christians the objects of his merciless cruelty. A terrible
fire about this time occurred in Rome, by which nearly one-half the
city was consumed. Nero himself caused the flames to be kindled,
and then, to avert suspicion, he made a pretense of great generosity in
assisting the homeless and destitute. He was, however, accused of the
crime. The people were excited and enraged, and Nero determined to
clear himself, and also to rid the city of a class whom he feared and
hated, by charging the act upon the Christians.
The Satanic device succeeded. Thousands of the followers of
Christ—men, women, and children—were put to death in the most
cruel manner. Some were crucified, some covered with the skins of
wild beasts, and torn in pieces by dogs, others were clothed in garments
of inflammable material, and set on fire at night to illuminate the circus
of the Vatican and the pleasure gardens of Nero. Thus this monster in
human form amused the public by exhibiting his victims in their dying
agonies, while he himself stood by, taking the keenest delight in their
misery. Degraded and hardened as were the Romans, and bitter as was