“To suppress the rumor that he was the arsonist, Nero fabricated scapegoats, and punished with every refinement the notoriously depraved Christians. First, Nero had the self-acknowledged Christians arrested. Then, on their information, large numbers of others were condemned. . . . Their deaths were made farcical. Dressed in wild animals’ skins, they were torn to pieces by dogs, or crucified, or made into torches to be ignited after dark as substitutes for daylight. Nero provided his Gardens for the spectacle, and exhibited displays in the Circus, at which he mingled with the crowd, or stood in a chariot, dressed as a charioteer.”
—Tacitus, Roman historian,
as quoted in Old News

Why did Nero have self-acknowledged Christians arrested first?
a.
to force them to be killed in awful ways
b.
to force them to reveal names of other Christians
c.
to protect them from certain death
d.
to punish them with every refinement


Please select the best answer from the choices provided

A
B
C
D