29 Bible Verses about Martyrdom

You are responsible for all the righteous blood shed on earth. That includes the blood of the righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, whom you killed between the sanctuary and the altar.

They killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out. They did not please God and are contrary to all men.

The rest violently attacked his servants and put them to death.

Jehovah, they have killed your prophets, and torn down your altars. I am left alone, and they seek my life. (1 Kings 19:14, 18)

What more shall I say? For the time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith subdued kingdoms, affected righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, and turned to flight foreign armies. read more.
Women received their dead by a resurrection, and others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mocking and scourging and bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawed in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword; they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented.

We should not be like Cain who was of the evil one, and killed his brother. Why did he murder him? It was because his works were evil, and his brother's were righteous.

While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

When Jezebel massacred the prophets of Jehovah, Obadiah took a hundred of them, and hid them secretly in a hole in the rock, fifty at a time, and gave them bread and water.

Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest.

He said: I have been zealous for Jehovah, the God of hosts. The children of Israel have not kept your agreement (covenant). They have destroyed your altars. They killed your prophets with the sword. I, even I, am the only one living. Now they seek to take my life too.

People will cause you tribulation, and kill you. You will be hated by all the nations for my name's sake.

They will throw you out of the synagogues. Yes, the hour comes that whoever kills you will think that he offered service to God.

People will hand over their brothers to be put to death. Parents will oppose children and children will oppose parents, causing them to be put to death.

I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the holy ones, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her I wondered greatly.

The blood of prophets, and of holy ones, and of all who were slain upon the earth was found in her.

Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil (false accuser) (Devil) is about to throw you into prison, that you may be tested. You will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful even if you must die, and I will give you the crown of life.

I know where you live and where the throne of Satan is. You cling to my name and have not denied my faith, even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness. He was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil (false accuser) (Devil) is about to throw you into prison, that you may be tested. You will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful even if you must die, and I will give you the crown of life.

Each of them was given a white robe. They were told that they should rest for a little while. [They were to wait] until the [number] of their fellow servants and their brothers, who would be killed, as they were, should be fulfilled.

I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. I also saw the people who were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image. They had not received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands. They lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

When the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the persons who were slaughtered because of the word of God, and for the witness they gave.

Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil (false accuser) (Devil) is about to throw you into prison, that you may be tested. You will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful even if you must die, and I will give you the crown of life.

Do not fear those who kill the body. They are not able to take away your [everlasting] life. Instead, fear him who is able to destroy both life and body in the ever-burning fires. (Greek: Gehenna: continuously burning trash fires in the valley of Hinnom.)

The king said to Doeg: You turn around and attack the priests. Doeg the Edomite turned around and attacked the priests. That day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod. He also killed the people of Nob, the city of the priests. Using his sword, he killed men and women, children and infants, cows, donkeys, and sheep.

Then Jesus told his disciples: If any man wants to follow me (be mine), let him deny (disown) himself, and take up his stake and follow me (Greek: akoloutheo moi, let him be following me) (accompany me) (be in the same way with me). He who wants to save his life will lose it. He who is willing to lose his life for my sake will find it.

I know where you live and where the throne of Satan is. You cling to my name and have not denied my faith, even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness. He was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

They brought Uriah from Egypt and took him to King Jehoiakim. The king executed Uriah and threw his body into the burial ground for the common people.

Truly, truly, I tell you, when you were young you dressed yourself and walked wherever you wanted. But when you become old, you stretch out your hands and another dresses you, and carries you where you do not want to go. Now this he spoke, signifying by what manner of death he should glorify God. After he spoke he said: Follow me.

The blood of all the prophets shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation. This includes the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. I tell you it will be required of this generation.

They plotted against Zechariah. Then they followed the king's order and stoned him to death in the courtyard of Jehovah's Temple. King Joash forgot that Zechariah's father had always been a loyal friend. So when the people of Judah plotted to kill Zechariah, Joash joined them and gave orders for them to stone him to death in the courtyard of the Temple. As Zechariah was dying, he said: I pray that Jehovah will see this and punish all of you.

You have not yet resisted by shedding blood in your striving against sin.

When Jezebel massacred the prophets of Jehovah, Obadiah took a hundred of them, and hid them secretly in a hole in the rock, fifty at a time, and gave them bread and water.

Have you not heard that when Jezebel was killing Jehovah's prophets I hid a hundred of them in caves, in two groups of fifty, and supplied them with food and water?

John said to Herod: It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife. Herodias had a grudge against John and was determined to have him killed. But Herod feared John. He knew he was a righteous and holy man so he kept him safe. That is why he listened to John but was perplexed. read more.
It was Herod's birthday. He invited his lords, the military commanders, and the prominent men of Galilee to supper. When the daughter of Herodias danced for Herod and his guests, she pleased him so much he promised her anything she desired. He pledged to her, Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you, up to half of my kingdom. She asked her mother, What should I ask? And the mother said: The head of John the Baptist. At once she went to the king and asked: Will you give me the head of John the Baptist on a platter. The king was very sorry. Even so he kept his promise to her. He did not turn her down. This also showed his dinner guests he was a man of his word. He immediately commanded his guard to behead John the Baptist and bring his head to him. He brought his head on a platter and gave it to the young lady. In turn she gave it to her mother.

They threw him out of the city, and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet. His name was Saul. They stoned Stephen. He called out: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit! He kneeled down and cried with a loud voice: Jehovah, do not charge this sin against them. After saying this he fell asleep in death.

He immediately commanded his guard to behead John the Baptist and bring his head to him.

They threw him out of the city, and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet. His name was Saul.

He killed James the brother of John with a sword.

As time went by, Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to Jehovah. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn (firstlings) of his flock. Jehovah looked with favor on Abel and his offering. He did not look with favor on Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his face was downcast (he had a bad attitude). read more.
Jehovah said to Cain: Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will not your attitude improve? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door. It desires to have you, but you must master it. While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

He killed James the brother of John with a sword.

He emptied (humbled) himself by taking the form of a servant. He was made in the likeness of men.

I am already being offered (poured out as an offering), and the time of my departure has come.

Why do you weep and break my heart? Paul answered: For I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.

And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. I also saw the people who were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image. They had not received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands. They lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

People will hand over their brothers to be put to death. Parents will oppose children and children will oppose parents, causing them to be put to death.

When the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the persons who were slaughtered because of the word of God, and for the witness they gave.