You might be interested in some previous threads on Roman persecution of Christianity:

• Why did Ancient Rome feel so threatened by Christianity that they felt they needed to execute all the Christians? - 23 comments, over 2 years old.
• This thread gives an overview of Roman practices towards other religions and a few brief responses on why Christianity was persecuted at an abnormal level.
• If Rome was a generally tolerant society, why did they persecute early Christians, and what finally led so many Romans to convert? - 32 comments, over 2 years old.
• This thread goes into great depth on how the Romans and Early Christianity interacted while drawing comparisons to then contemporary Judaism.
• Why does it seem that the Roman persecution of Christians was so often haphazard, goal-less and poorly directed? - 4 comments, over 9 months old.
• A specialist discusses the actual enforcement of anti-Christian laws through the lenses of Rome's governmental and bureaucratic systems as well as situation on the ground as wide-spread persecution was attempted.