28 Bible Verses about Martyrdom

that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel, to the blood of Zacharias the son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; who are displeasing to God, and contrary to all men:

and others seized his servants, and shamefully abused them, and slew them.

saying, "Lord, they have slain thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life."

And what need I say more? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and Barak, and Sampson, and Jephthah, and David, and Samuel, and of the prophets: who by faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made powerful, became strong in battle, and turned to flight the armies of their enemies. read more.
Women received their dead raised to life again; and others were tortured to death, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. And others had the trial of mockings and scourgings, and of bonds too and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain by the sword: they went about in sheep-skins, and goat-skins, being destitute, afflicted,

and why did he slay him? because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

But Saul still breathing out threatnings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, came to the high priest, and desired of him letters to the synagogues at Damascus,

Then shall they afflict you, and kill you; and ye shall be hated by all nations for my name:

for they will excommunicate you: yea, the time is coming, that whosoever killeth you, will think that he offers an acceptable service to God.

Brother shall betray his brother to death, and the father his child: and children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death:

And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great amazement.

And herein was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

Fear none of the things which thou wilt suffer: behold the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall suffer affliction ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and yet thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr; who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

Fear none of the things which thou wilt suffer: behold the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall suffer affliction ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

And white robes were given to each of them, and it was told them to rest a little while longer, till the number of their fellow-servants, and their brethren that should be killed as they were, should be complete.

And I saw thrones, and persons sat on them, and judgement was given to them: and I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God; and who had not worshipped the beast, nor his image, and received not his mark upon their forehead, and on their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

And when He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those that had been slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they maintained.

Fear none of the things which thou wilt suffer: behold the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall suffer affliction ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

And be not afraid of them, who can only kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him, who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Then said Jesus to his disciples, If any one is willing to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me: for he that would save his life shall lose it; but he that would lose his life for my sake shall find it.

I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and yet thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr; who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

Verily, verily I say unto thee, When thou wast younger, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst about where thou wouldest: but when thou art old, thou shalt stretch out thine hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee where thou wouldest not. This He said, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when He had said this, He saith unto him, Follow me.

that the blood of all the prophets which has been shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the altar and the temple. Verily I tell you, it shall be required of this generation.

for ye have not resisted unto blood in striving against sin.

For John had said to Herod, it is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife. Wherefore Herodias persecuted him, and would have taken away his life: but could not; for Herod revered John, knowing him to be a just and holy man, and protected him: and when he heard him he did many things according to John's instructions, and heard him willingly. read more.
But a convenient day happening, when Herod on his birth-night gave a supper to his lords, and chief officers, and persons of distinction in Galilee; and the daughter of Herodias coming in, and dancing, and having pleased Herod and his guests, the king said to the young princess, Ask of me whatever thou wilt, and I will give it thee. And he gave her his oath too, whatever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, even to the half of my kingdom. And she withdrew and consulted her mother, what to ask: and she said, The head of John the baptist. And immediately she came in again with eagerness to the king, and said, I desire that thou wouldst give me directly the head of John the baptist in a dish. And the king was exceedingly grieved, but on account of his oath, and those who were at table with him, he would not refuse her: but immediately sent one of his guard, and ordered his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head in a dish, and gave it to the damsel, and the damsel carried it to her mother.

and cast him out of the city and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And bending his knees, he cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this he fell asleep.

and ordered his head to be brought:

and cast him out of the city and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man, whose name was Saul.

And he cut off James, the brother of John, with the sword.

And he cut off James, the brother of John, with the sword.

Yet He emptied himself, assuming the form of a servant, when made in the likeness of men:

For I am now going to be sacrificed, and the time of my dissolution is near.

But Paul answered, What do ye mean, weeping and breaking my heart? for I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.

And though I give all my substance to feed the poor, and my body to be burnt, and have not charity, I am nothing profited.

And I saw thrones, and persons sat on them, and judgement was given to them: and I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God; and who had not worshipped the beast, nor his image, and received not his mark upon their forehead, and on their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Brother shall betray his brother to death, and the father his child: and children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death:

And when He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those that had been slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they maintained.