New Testament History

The martyrdoms of Peter, Paul, Andrew, and Thomas

Nero persecuted Christians,[1] probably beginning from the fire in Rome in July 64 AD.[2] Peter and Paul died on the same day.[3] Paul was still alive 35 years after the ascension[4] (May 33 AD-May 68 AD). According to A.C.E., Peter died in 69 AD.[5] Since A.C.E. says in the same passage that Peter arrived in Rome in 44 AD[6] (which year is correct) and that he was bishop of Rome for 25 years,[7] she apparently reconstructed the year 69 AD by adding 25 years to the year 44 AD. Analogously, in the same instance, A.C.E. tells that Peter died at the age of 99,[8] which number results from adding his 25 years as bishop to his correct age of 74 years: since Peter was 5 years elder than Christ,[9] he was born in 6 BC and thus 74 at his death in 68/69 AD. In both instances, A.C.E. made a reconstruction on the basis of the 25 years. Yet, in the first case, the 25 years should apparently be reckoned from Peter’s departure for Rome in May 43 AD rather than from his arrival in Rome in January 44 AD; Peter and Paul died in 68 AD. It was 35 (= 5 x 7) years after Christ was crucified in 33 AD. The year 1967-1968 commemorated the 1900th anniversary of Peter’s and Paul’s martyrdoms.[10] Peter and Paul are the two witnesses (Rev 11:3-12) killed by the beast (Rev 11:7) = Rome.[11] The First Jewish-Roman War (66-70 AD) is described in Rev 11:1-2.[12] During this war Peter and Paul died. Following their deaths, 7,000 people died in the city (Rev 11:13), i.e. in the great city of Rome (Rev 11:8). In the latter part of 68 AD, Galba killed 7,000 soldiers near Rome.[13]

Peter was crucified in the evening.[14] He was buried on 29 June,[15] on Wednesday 29 June 68 AD = 11 Tammuz.[16] Peter and Paul were martyred in Nero’s year 14 (13 October 67/68 AD).[17] The bodies of the two witnesses, Peter and Paul, lay dead for 3½ days (Rev 11:9, 11), from 26 June until 29 June. Peter and Paul died on 8 Tammuz 68 AD = Sunday 26 June. On 26 June 1968, Pope Paul VI proclaimed that the relics of Peter had been found.[18] Their martyrdoms took place 2 weeks after Nero’s death (on 9 or 11 June 68 AD).[19] Nero had released Paul from prison in the spring of 59 AD and hence would not persecute Paul. As a Roman citizen (Acts 16:37-38; 22:25-29; 23:27), Paul could only be executed when Roman power was vacant. The new emperor, Galba, arrived in Rome only by September/October 68 AD.[20]

Since Andrew was 3 years elder than Peter,[21] he was born in 9 BC. Andrew was martyred in his 93rd year,[22] in 84 AD, i.e. in the year in which John was persecuted in Rome on 6 May. The liturgical feast of Andrew is 30 November.[23] Andrew died on Tuesday 30 November 84 AD = 13 Kislev. It was 84 (= 12 x 7) years after the birth of Christ on Sunday 12 Kislev 1 BC.

Since Thomas was about 3 years elder than Christ,[24] he was born in 4 BC. Thomas was martyred when he was 93,[25] in 90 AD. The liturgical feast of Thomas is 21 December.[26] Thomas died on Tuesday 21 December 90 AD = 10 Tevet, i.e. on the fast of 10 Tevet.