From Fox’s Book of Martyrs: History of Christian Martyrs to the First General Persecutions under Nero
The apostle Peter, along with many other Christians, was condemned to death and crucified. Some say this happened in Rome, although others have good reason to doubt this.
When Hegesippus told Peter’s supporters that Nero was after a reason to put Peter to death, they pressed him to leave the city in a hurry. He was eventually persuaded by their insistence, and as he was leaving the city gate Jesus Christ came to meet him.
“Why have you come?” Peter asked Jesus. “I’ve come to be crucified again,” Jesus replied. Peter then understood how he was to suffer and die, and he returned to the city.
Jerome says that Peter was crucified upside down at his own request, because he thought himself unworthy to die the same way as Jesus.
