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.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
But if he does not hear you, take with you one or two more, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established;
You are witnesses of these things.
and they stoned Stephen, calling and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
and when the blood of your martyr Stephen was poured out, I also stood by and consented, and kept the clothes of those that killed him.
and when the blood of your martyr Stephen was poured out, I also stood by and consented, and kept the clothes of those that killed him.
And if I deal out all my property to feed the poor, and if I deliver my body to be burned, and have not love, I shall not be profited.
I know your works and where you live; where Satan's throne is; and you hold my name, and did not deny my faith in the days in which Antipas my faithful martyr was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of the martyrs of Jesus, and I wondered when I saw her with great wonder.
And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of the martyrs of Jesus, and I wondered when I saw her with great wonder.
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).
See Verses Found in Dictionary
But if he does not hear you, take with you one or two more, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established;
Then the chief priest rent his clothes, saying, He has blasphemed; what further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now you have heard the blasphemy.
You are witnesses of these things.
but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and all Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
beginning from the baptism of John till the day on which he was taken up from us, should be made with us a witness of his resurrection.
and brought forward false witnesses who said, This man speaks incessantly against this holy place, and the law;
and casting him out of the city, stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man called Saul,
and when the blood of your martyr Stephen was poured out, I also stood by and consented, and kept the clothes of those that killed him.
For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, how incessantly I make mention of you, always in my prayers
Any one who despised the law of Moses died without mercy by two or three witnesses;
I know your works and where you live; where Satan's throne is; and you hold my name, and did not deny my faith in the days in which Antipas my faithful martyr was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of the martyrs of Jesus, and I wondered when I saw her with great wonder.
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.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
So that you testify to yourselves that you are children of those who killed the prophets;
I know that you are children of Abraham; but you seek to kill me because my word has no place in you.
but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth, which I have heard from God; Abraham did not do this.
and when the blood of your martyr Stephen was poured out, I also stood by and consented, and kept the clothes of those that killed him.
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the first born from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him that loved us and washed us from our sins with his blood,
I know your works and where you live; where Satan's throne is; and you hold my name, and did not deny my faith in the days in which Antipas my faithful martyr was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write, These things says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God,
And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of the martyrs of Jesus, and I wondered when I saw her with great wonder.