The Third Persecution of the Christians, Commenced under Trajan, in the Year 102

With the beginning of the second century, in the year 102, the third heathen persecution against the Christians arose under Emperor Trajan, who came to the rule of the Roman monarchy in the year 100.

Urged on by Mamertinus, the governor of Rome, and Targuinus, the superintendent of the worship of the heathen deities, he persecuted the Christians in a dreadful manner, and put them to a wretched death.

He was called a good emperor, but he was very superstitious in regard to the heathen worship, and for that reason he was the more easily led to undertake this sorry work. It was also no small help to this end that the heathen priests and idolaters paid great taxes, to root out by sufferings and death, as the enemies of God and of man, those who were opposed to their gods, especially the Christians.

Meanwhile we shall show which persons suffered under the bloody reign of Emperor Trajan, for the name of Jesus Christ.