The Bible doesn’t say exactly how or when Peter died. But it hints. How. Jesus told Peter, ” ‘When you are old, you will stretch out your hands. .’ . . .Jesus said this to let him know what kind of death he would die to glorify God” (John 21:18-19).

When. First Peter places the apostle in Rome. Several Christian writers from early centuries say he died there-crucified.

Some writers, such as the church historian Eusebius, who lived in the late 200s, said Peter and Paul died in the mid-60s, about the same time the Jews killed James, the brother of Jesus who led the Jerusalem church.

A key event in history may have prompted these executions. On July 19, AD 64, fire broke out in Rome, a city of two million people-many of whom lived in slums. The fire raged for six days, then reignited and burned another three. By then, two-thirds of the city was destroyed.

Many historians blame Nero, who was away at a resort and who may have ordered the fire as a way to sidestep the Roman Senate, since he wanted to renovate Rome.

Nero, however, blamed the new, troublesome Jewish sect known as Christians. He began Crucifying them and forcing them to face lions and gladiators in the arenas. For some nighttime shows, he tied them to stakes around the arena and set them on fire as torches.

Origen, a theologian in the early 200s offered this report of Peter’s execution: “Peter was crucified at Rome with his head downward, as he himself had desired to suffer.”

Archaeologists found an early shrine in Rome, built in Peter’s memory. It lies under St. Peter’s Church on Vatican Hill-the very church from which the people often address massive crowds.