The
emperor Domitian, who was naturally inclined to cruelty, first slew his
brother, and then raised the second persecution against the
Christians. In his rage he put to death some of the Roman senators, some
through malice; and others to confiscate their estates. He then commanded
all the lineage of David be put to death.
A
variety of fabricated tales were, during this reign, composed in order to
injure the Christians. Such was the infatuation of the pagans, that, if
famine, pestilence, or earthquakes afflicted any of the Roman provinces,
it was laid upon the Christians. These persecutions among the Christians
increased the number of informers and many, for the sake of gain, swore
away the lives of the innocent.
Another
hardship was that, when any Christians were brought before the
magistrates, a test oath was proposed, when, if they refused to take it,
death was pronounced against them; and if they confessed themselves
Christians, the sentence was the same.
Nicodemus, a benevolent Christian of some distinction, suffered at Rome,
and Protasius and Gervasius were martyred at Milan.
Timothy
was the celebrated disciple of Paul and bishop of Ephesus, where he
zealously governed the Church until A.D. 97. At this period, as the
pagans were about to celebrate a feast called Catagogion, Timothy,
meeting the procession, severely reproved them for their ridiculous
idolatry, which so exasperated the people that they fell upon him with
their clubs, and beat him in so dreadful a manner that he expired of the
bruises two days later.