28 Bible Verses about Martyrdom

That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of Abel the righteous, to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

Who both killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us: and they please not God, and are contrary to all men.

And the rest laying hold on his servants, treated them shamefully and slew them.

Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thy altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.

And what shall I say more? For the time would fail me, to tell of Gideon, and Barak, and Sampson, and Jephthah, and David, and Samuel, and the prophets: Who by faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness was made strong, became valiant in fight, put to flight armies of the aliens; Women received their dead raised to life again: read more.
others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned, were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheep-skins, in goat-skins, destitute, afflicted, tormented:

Not as Cain, who was of the wicked one, and slew his brother.

But Saul still breathing threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord,

Then shall they deliver you to be afflicted, and shall kill you; and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you, will think he doth God service.

But the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child; and children shall rise up against their parents, and kill them.

And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. And when I saw, I wondered exceedingly.

And in her was found the blood of prophets, and saints, and of all that had been slain upon the earth.

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

I know where thou dwellest, where the throne of Satan is; and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, in the days wherein Antipas, my faithful witness was, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

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

And there was given to them, to every one, a white robe; and it was said to them, that they should rest yet for a time, till their fellow servants also and their brethren should be fulfilled, who should be killed even as they were.

And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them; and I saw the souls of them who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the wild beast nor his image, neither had received the mark on their forehead or on their hand; 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 them that had been slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held.

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

And be not afraid of them who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather be afraid of him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Then said Jesus to his disciples, If any man be willing to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me. For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it, and whosoever will lose his life for my sake, shall find it.

I know where thou dwellest, where the throne of Satan is; and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, in the days wherein Antipas, my faithful witness was, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

Verily, verily I say unto thee, when thou wast young, thou didst gird thyself, and walk whither thou wouldest: but when thou art old, thou shalt stretch out thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This he said, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And having said this, he saith to him, Follow me.

So that the blood of all the prophets shed from the foundation of the world, shall be required of this generation. From the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was destroyed between the temple and the altar: verily I say to you, it shall be required of this generation.

Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

For John had said to Herod, It is not lawful for thee, to have thy brother's wife. Therefore Herodias was incensed against him, and was desirous to have killed him; but she could not. For Herod reverenced John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and preserved him: and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. read more.
And a convenient day being come, when Herod on his birth-day made a feast, for his lords, captains, and principal men of Galilee: When the daughter of Herodias had come in and danced and pleased Herod, and his guests, the king said to the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee. And he sware to her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask me, I will give thee, to the half my kingdom. And she went out and said to her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist. And coming in quickly with haste to the king she asked, saying, I will that thou give me immediately in a charger the head of John the Baptist. And the king was exceeding sorry: yet for his oath's sake, and for the sake of his guests, he would not reject her. And immediately the king sent one of his guard, and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in the prison, And brought his head in a charger and gave it to the damsel, and the damsel gave it to her mother.

And casting him out of the city, stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, invoking and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And kneeling down, he cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And having said this, he fell asleep: And Saul was consenting to his death.

And immediately the king sent one of his guard, and commanded his head to be brought.

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

And he slew James, the brother of John, with the sword.

And he slew James, the brother of John, with the sword.

Yet emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men.

For I am now ready to be offered up, and the time of my departure is at hand.

But Paul answered, What mean ye, weeping and breaking my heart? 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 goods to feed the poor, and deliver up my body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing.

And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them; and I saw the souls of them who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the wild beast nor his image, neither had received the mark on their forehead or on their hand; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

But the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child; and children shall rise up against their parents, and kill them.

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