Beginning in the reign of Nero, Christians were persecuted by the Roman empire.  After the great fire of Rome, Nero had to find a scapegoat and the Christians fit the bill.  This would be the first of several intermittent but strenuous persecutions of the Christian faith.  The atrocities committed are absolutely horrendous.  Being wrapped in oily rags and set on fire as a live human torch, being wrapped in animal skins and being mauled to death by wild dogs, and of course being thrown to the lions.  Trajan’s persecution appears to be just as brutal, but Christians were not quite as strenuously sought and it only took a denial to get off scot free.  Although a strong Christian would never have taken that out.  But… at the same time some Romans recognized the goodness of Christianity remarking on their way of returning good for evil and always remaining joyful in the face of persecution.  And as strongly opposed as it was Christianity was always gaining converts.  In the end, Christianity won against the entire might of Rome.  Truly He has set forth a Kingdom that will never be defeated.