How Emperor Constantine Banned Death by Crucifixion After the Death of Jesus Christ

 

The books of the New Testament—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—give a detailed account of the crucifixion of Jesus. The Roman soldiers arrested Him, tortured Him, and eventually crucified Him on the cross in a gruesome execution.

The Romans practiced crucifixion for nearly a thousand years. It was a public, painful, and slow form of execution, used to discourage future crimes and humiliate the condemned person. They practiced two major methods of crucifixion: crux immissa, which is similar to the traditional Christian cross, and crux commissa, a T-shaped cross. There was usually an inscription nailed above the victim, stating their specific crime.

Christian Persecution in Rome

After the crucifixion, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, Christianity came under serious attack in Rome. It was considered a criminal act and was punished harshly.

The first recorded official persecution of Christians by the Roman Empire occurred in 64 CE when Emperor Nero blamed Christians for the Great Fire of Rome and persecuted them severely. He had them thrown into amphitheaters to be torn apart by wild beasts.

It was during his reign that Peter and Paul were martyred in Rome. After Nero’s death in 68 CE, persecution continued under various emperors for about 250 years until Emperor Constantine recognized Christianity in 312 CE.

During the reign of Diocletian in 302 CE, he ordered Christian buildings and homes to be destroyed, and their sacred books to be collected and burned.

Christians were arrested, tortured, mutilated, burned, starved, and condemned to gladiatorial contests for public entertainment. The Diocletianic Persecution was the last and most severe persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire.

Constantine’s Conversion and the Rise of Christianity

Despite the persecution, Christianity continued to grow within the empire. By 312 CE, Constantine had risen as an emperor of Rome. During the Battle of the Milvian Bridge that same year, he experienced a dramatic event that led to his conversion to Christianity. This battle was fought between the Roman emperors Constantine and Maxentius.

Before the battle, Constantine reportedly looked up at the sun and saw a cross of light with Greek words that translate to "In this sign, conquer." He then commanded his troops to adorn their shields with a Christian symbol, and they emerged victorious.

This victory gave Constantine control over the eastern part of the empire, which had been ruled by Maxentius. Eventually, he became the sole ruler of the entire Roman Empire. In 330 CE, he moved the capital to the city of Byzantium, which was later renamed Constantinople in his honor.

The End of Crucifixion and the Spread of Christianity

Attributing his victory to divine intervention, Constantine converted to Christianity. He then legalized Christianity and ended the persecution of Christians. In 313 CE, he issued the Edict of Milan, which granted religious tolerance to Christians within the empire.

In 337 CE, as a sign of respect for Jesus, who chose to redeem the world through His death on the cross, Constantine banned crucifixion. Christianity later became the official religion of the Roman Empire under Emperor Theodosius I in 380 CE.

The crucifixion of Jesus was a pivotal event in Christian history, marking the sacrifice that redeemed mankind. However, for centuries after His death, the Roman Empire continued to use crucifixion as a brutal form of execution.

It wasn’t until Emperor Constantine’s conversion to Christianity that things began to change. Recognizing the divine significance of the cross, Constantine not only legalized Christianity but also banned the practice of crucifixion in 337 CE—putting an end to a punishment that had once taken the life of Jesus.

By doing so, he transformed the cross from a symbol of suffering into one of victory, faith, and redemption. His decision marked a turning point in history, cementing Christianity’s influence in the Roman Empire and beyond. 

Thank you and God bless.