and not from the time of Nero.1 It was the legislation of Trajan which was in effect at the time of Tertullian and it was to this legislation that he referred.2 So far as the half century between the first outbreak under Nero and the rescript of Trajan is concerned the solution seems very simple. In the first place, there was nothing even resembling a persecution, except possibly in some places in Asia Minor where the Christians were particularly numerous and heartily disliked. It is pretty generally