Reference: Martyr
American
A witness, Mt 18:16; Lu 24:48; in ecclesiastical history, "a witness, by the shedding of his blood, in testifying to the truth." Thus martyrs are distinguished from "confessors," properly so called, who underwent great afflictions for their confession of the truth, but without suffering death. The term "martyr" occurs only thrice in the New Testament, Ac 22:20; Re 2:13; 17:6. Since the time of Stephen, Ac 7:59; 22:20, myriads of martyrs have sealed the truth of Christianity by a painful death; which they willingly endured through faith, rather than to deny Christ, and which they often eagerly desired as a special privilege. It is doubtless possible to be put to death as a Christian, without real love for Christ, 1Co 13:3; but in general "the noble army of the martyrs" have borne a true and overwhelming testimony to the power and preciousness of faith in Christ; and their blood witnesses before God against their foes, especially against that apostate church which is "drunken with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus," Re 17:6.
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But if he hear thee not, then take yet with thee one or two, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses, all things may be established.
And ye are witnesses of these things.
And they stoned Stephen, calling on and saying, "Lord Jesus receive my spirit."
And when the blood of thy witness Stephen was shed, I also stood by, and consented unto his death and kept the raiment of them that slew him.'
And when the blood of thy witness Stephen was shed, I also stood by, and consented unto his death and kept the raiment of them that slew him.'
And though I bestowed all my goods to feed the poor, and though I gave my body even that I burned, and yet had no love, it profiteth me nothing.
I know thy works and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is, and thou keepest my name and hast not denied my faith. And in my days Antipas was a faithful witness of mine, which was slain among you where Satan dwelleth.
And I saw the wife drunken with the blood of saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. And when I saw her, I wondered with great marvel.
And I saw the wife drunken with the blood of saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. And when I saw her, I wondered with great marvel.
Easton
one who bears witness of the truth, and suffers death in the cause of Christ (Ac 22:20; Re 2:13; 17:6). In this sense Stephen was the first martyr. The Greek word so rendered in all other cases is translated "witness." (1.) In a court of justice (Mt 18:16; 26:65; Ac 6:13; 7:58; Heb 10:28; 1Ti 5:19). (2.) As of one bearing testimony to the truth of what he has seen or known (Lu 24:48; Ac 1:8,22; Ro 1:9; 1Th 2:5,10; 1Jo 1:2).
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"Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore, up and go over Jordan, both thou and all this people, unto the land the which I give unto the children of Israel.
But if he hear thee not, then take yet with thee one or two, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses, all things may be established.
Then the high priest rent his clothes saying, "He hath blasphemed: what need we of any more witnesses? Behold, now have ye heard his blasphemy:
And ye are witnesses of these things.
but ye shall receive power of the holy ghost which shall come on you. And ye shall be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem, and in all Jewry, and in Samaria, and even unto the world's end."
beginning at the baptism of John unto that same day that he was taken up from us - must one be ordained to bear witness with us of his resurrection."
and brought forth false witnesses which said, "This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law,
and cast him out of the city, and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, named Saul.
And when the blood of thy witness Stephen was shed, I also stood by, and consented unto his death and kept the raiment of them that slew him.'
For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit, in the Gospel of his son that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers,
He that despiseth Moses' law, dieth without mercy under two or three witnesses.
I know thy works and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is, and thou keepest my name and hast not denied my faith. And in my days Antipas was a faithful witness of mine, which was slain among you where Satan dwelleth.
And I saw the wife drunken with the blood of saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. And when I saw her, I wondered with great marvel.
Hastings
Morish
The Greek word is ??????, and is very frequently translated 'witness;' a martyr is one who meets with death because of the witness he bears. Stephen was a martyr, Ac 22:20; also Antipas, Re 2:13. The 'two witnesses ' in Rev. 11 will also be martyrs, and Babylon the Great is charged with being drunken "with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus." Re 17:6. The history of the church records the faithfulness of many of these. There can be no doubt that many of the O.T. saints also died as martyrs. Jezebel cut off the prophets of Jehovah. 1Ki 18:13. The Lord charged the Pharisees with being the children of them which killed the prophets, Mt 23:31; and in the "cloud of witnesses" spoken of in Heb. 11, were some of whom it is said "others were tortured lit. broken on the wheel, not accepting deliverance," as many martyrs since then might have saved their lives by denying their faith. Christ Himself was the faithful and true witness, Re 1:5; 3:14; and He said to His persecutors, "Ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you . . . . ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth." Joh 8:37,40. Thus the Lord Jesus was the true Martyr, though His death comprehended much more than dying as a martyr, namely, atonement.
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Was it not told my lord what I did, when Jezebel slew the Prophets of the LORD? How I hid a hundred of the LORD's Prophets, fifty in one cave and as many in another, and provided them of bread and water?
So then: ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them, which killed the prophets.
I know that ye are Abraham's seed: but ye seek means to kill me because my sayings have no place in you.
But now ye go about to kill me, a man that have told you the truth, which I have heard of God: This did not Abraham.
And when the blood of thy witness Stephen was shed, I also stood by, and consented unto his death and kept the raiment of them that slew him.'
and from Jesus Christ which is a faithful witness, and first begotten of the dead: and Lord over the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
I know thy works and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is, and thou keepest my name and hast not denied my faith. And in my days Antipas was a faithful witness of mine, which was slain among you where Satan dwelleth.
"And unto the messenger of the congregation which is in Laodicea write, 'This saith - amen - the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creatures of God.
And I saw the wife drunken with the blood of saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. And when I saw her, I wondered with great marvel.