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Emperor Nero - Emperor Nero is referred to as an Anti-Christ in the Book of Acts. - Emperor Nero sponsored a state-wide purge and arrest of any openly Christian individuals in the Roman Empire. - Many Apostles and Roman Citizens who were Christians were murdered, tortured or imprisoned in an effort to purge Christianity from the Roman Empire - The Great Roman Fire: Was an undercover plot to send Roman Soldiers at night in places such as Jerusalem and Rome and destroy any Christian houses of worship or anything in relation to Christianity and depict it as an act of arson. - Video to the right describes in more detail Emperor Nero. |
The Roman Empire
AD 45-80
![Picture](/uploads/1/3/0/0/130023479/peak-of-roman-empire_orig.gif)
The Roman Empire contrasted vastly different from the virtues of Christianity
- The Roman Empire worshiped their own versions of Greek gods and was polytheistic in contrast to the monotheistic Christianity.
- The Book of Acts goes through four Roman Emperors: Emperor Caesar, Emperor Augustus, Emperor Tiberius, & Emperor Nero
- The first three Emperor had a distaste and were aware of the issues Christianity can pose to the Roman Emperor but did little to address the issue; until Roman Emperor Nero who vastly persecuted Christians.
- The Roman Empire was a Republic turned into an Empire/Dictatorship thus the Emperor usually decided everything that happened in the Empire based on his will.
- Christianity was not the only religion that the Roman Empire tried to purge other religions were targeted such as Zoroastrianism and small tribal religions.
- Missionaries in the Book of Acts had to travel to the greater part of the Roman Empire-- there journey starts from Jerusalem and extends to Greece and Persia.
- The Roman Empire was on of the most diverse Empires in World History-- encompassing modern Spain, England, France, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Germany, Egypt, Turkey, Israel, Morocco, and Libya.
- The Roman Empire worshiped their own versions of Greek gods and was polytheistic in contrast to the monotheistic Christianity.
- The Book of Acts goes through four Roman Emperors: Emperor Caesar, Emperor Augustus, Emperor Tiberius, & Emperor Nero
- The first three Emperor had a distaste and were aware of the issues Christianity can pose to the Roman Emperor but did little to address the issue; until Roman Emperor Nero who vastly persecuted Christians.
- The Roman Empire was a Republic turned into an Empire/Dictatorship thus the Emperor usually decided everything that happened in the Empire based on his will.
- Christianity was not the only religion that the Roman Empire tried to purge other religions were targeted such as Zoroastrianism and small tribal religions.
- Missionaries in the Book of Acts had to travel to the greater part of the Roman Empire-- there journey starts from Jerusalem and extends to Greece and Persia.
- The Roman Empire was on of the most diverse Empires in World History-- encompassing modern Spain, England, France, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Germany, Egypt, Turkey, Israel, Morocco, and Libya.
Relation to Pentecost
- The Book of Acts relates to the story of Pentecost because in order for the early missionaries from Jerusalem to travel to other parts of the Roman Empire and preach they needed to know the languages of the region.
- Latin was the official language of the Roman Empire but only elites knew the language everyone else knew the language of the territory in which they lived (e.g. Roman Citizens in Spain spoke Spanish)
- The story of Pentecost granted the Apostles the ability to speak and understand multiple languages allowing them to travel and preach the Good News.
- Latin was the official language of the Roman Empire but only elites knew the language everyone else knew the language of the territory in which they lived (e.g. Roman Citizens in Spain spoke Spanish)
- The story of Pentecost granted the Apostles the ability to speak and understand multiple languages allowing them to travel and preach the Good News.