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The mid-2nd century pope Anicetus (156-166) said that Peter was beheaded by Nero in Rome. The reason for this claim was that he had became locked in a conflict with the venerable Polycarp of Smyrna. Polycarp had tried to win the argument by insisting that he spoke with the authority of the apostle John. In response, Anicetus told of Peter's beheading and said that he spoke with the authority of Peter.

Then in the third century, the Church Father Origen changed the story somewhat, saying that Peter, condemned to crucifixion, felt himself unworthy to be crucified the same way as his Lord, and so chose crucifixion upside down.

In fact, we do not know whether Peter was martyred, or even how or where he died.

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Peter, formally Simon, who's name was changed by Jesus and means literally "Rock". bore witness to the resurrected Jesus. After a ministry of about thirty years, travelled to Rome and met his martyrdom there in the year 64 AD during the reign of the Roman Emperor Nero. According to Origen, Peter was crucified head downwards, by his own request because he considered himself unworthy to die in the same manner as Jesus. The crucifixion took place near an ancient Egyptian obelisk in the Circus of Nero. The obelisk now stands in Saint Peter's Square and is revered as a "witness" to Peter's death. It is one of several ancient Obelisks of Rome. .

At this time period all Christians were being persecuted and notably blamed for the Great Fire of Rome. When the body was taken down it was discarded like the rest of the Christian's outside the walls of Circus of Nero. It is believed that those that buried him outside the walls placed a "red rock" to mark the grave. Some three hundred years later and the first Roman Emperor to convert to Christianity, Constantine. Constantine was told of the grave and he himself went there, discovered it and built the magnificent Old St. Peters Basilica over it in 326AD. Constantine put a huge financial stain on the Roman Empire, He was so certain of the tombs location. This Church stood till the 15th century and is now replaced with the Basilica we know of now.

Peter is a Martyr for his love of Christ. He is the most noted Apostle of the 4 Gospels.

Matthew 16: 18-19

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Q: How did Peter become a martyr?
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