11 Bible Verses about Martyrdom, Reasons For

And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should even speak, and cause that all who did not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

and said to his servants, This is John the Baptist; he hath risen from the dead, and therefore do these powers work in him. For Herod had seized John, and bound him, and put him in prison, on account of Herodias, his brother Philips wife. For John said to him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.read more.
And wishing to put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they regarded him as a prophet. But when Herods birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod; whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. And she, being set on by her mother, saith, Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist. And the king was sorry; but on account of his oaths, and of those at table with him, he ordered it to be given, and sent and beheaded John in the prison. And his head was brought on a platter, and given to the damsel; and she brought it to her mother. And his disciples came and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

For Herod himself had sent forth and seized John, and bound him in prison, on account of Herodias, his brother Philips wife; for he had married her. For John had said to Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brothers wife. And Herodias was enraged against him, and wished to put him to death, but could not.read more.
For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and was regardful of him; and on hearing him, was in much anxiety, and listened to him gladly. And a convenient day having come, when Herod on his birthday made a supper for his nobles and chief captains and the principal men of Galilee, and the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and those at table with him; and the king said to the damsel, Ask of me whatever thou wilt, and I will give it thee. And he swore to her, Whatever thou shalt ask of me, I will give thee, to the half of my kingdom. And she went out and said to her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptizer. And she came in immediately with haste to the king, and asked, saying, I desire that thou wilt give me immediately on a platter the head of John the Baptist. And the king was exceedingly sorry; but on account of his oaths, and of those at table with him, he would not refuse her. And the king immediately sent one of his guards, and ordered his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the damsel; and the damsel gave it to her mother. And his disciples, when they heard of it, came and took up his body, and laid it in a tomb.

Stiffnecked, and uncircumcised in heart and ears! ye do always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? And they slew those who foretold the coming of the righteous one, of whom ye have now become the betrayers and murderers; ye who received the Law as ordained through angels, and did not keep it.read more.
But when they heard these things, their hearts were filled with rage, and they gnashed their teeth at him. But, being full of the Holy Spirit, he looked up earnestly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said, Lo, I behold the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. And they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and rushed upon him with one accord; and having cast him out of the city, they stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul;

And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that cometh up out of the abyss will make war against them, and will overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord also was crucified. And some from among the peoples, and tribes, and tongues, and nations, will look upon their dead bodies three days and a half, and will not suffer their dead bodies to be put into a tomb.read more.
And they that dwell upon the earth will rejoice over them, and make merry, and will send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwelt on the earth.

Then will they deliver you up to distress, and will kill you; and ye will be hated by all nations on account of my name.

And brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child; and children will rise up against parents, and put them to death. And ye will be hated by all on account of my name. But he that endureth to the end will be saved.

And ye will be delivered up both by parents and brothers and kinsmen and friends; and some of you will they put to death. And ye will be hated by all on account of my name.

not as Cain was of the Evil One, and slew his brother. And wherefore did he slay him? Because his own works were evil, and his brothers righteous.

and upon her forehead a name written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain on account of the word of God, and on account of the testimony which they had borne;