27 Bible Verses about Martyrdom

that upon you may come all the righteous blood poured out upon the earth, from the blood of Abel, the righteous, unto the blood of Zachariah, son of Barachiah, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and pleased not God, and are contrary to all men;

and the rest, having laid hold on his servants, maltreated and slew them.

"Lord, they have killed Thy prophets, they have digged down Thy altars; and I am left alone, and they are seeking my soul."

And what more am I to say? for the time will fail me, if I speak at length concerning Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David also, and of Samuel, and the prophets; who, through faith, subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put to flight armies of aliens. read more.
Women received their dead by a resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting the redemption, that they might obtain a better resurrection. And others had trial of mockings and scourgings, and, moreover, of bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they perished in the slaughter of the sword; they went about in sheep-skins, in goat-skins, being destitute, suffering tribulation, maltreated

not as Cain who was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And wherefore did he slay him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

And Saul, yet breathing threatening and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, going to the high priest,

Then will they deliver you up to tribulation, and will slay you; and ye will be hated by all the nations for My name's sake.

They will put you out of the synagogues; yea, an hour is coming, that every one who kills you will think that he is offering service to God.

"And brother will deliver up brother to death; and father, his child; and children will rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death.

And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And, seeing her, I wondered with great wonder.

And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all who have been slain on the earth.

Fear not the things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the Devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

"I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith, even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

Fear not the things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the Devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

And a white robe was given to each one of them; and it was said to them, that they should rest yet a little time, until their fellow-servants and their brethren, who were about to be slain, as they also had been, should fulfill their course.

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them; and judgment was given to them; and I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus, and because of the word of God; and such as worshiped not the beast, neither his image, and received not the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they lived, and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

And, when He opened the fifth seal, I saw, underneath the altar, the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they were holding.

Fear not the things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the Devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

And be not afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear Him Who is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell.

Then said Jesus to His disciples, "If any one wishes to come after Me, let him disown himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me; for whosoever wishes to save his soul shall lose it, and whosoever shall lose his soul for My sake shall find it;

"I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith, even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

Verily, verily, I say to you, when you were young, you were wont to gird yourself, and to walk wheresoever you wished; but, when you become old, you will stretch forth your hands, and another will gird you, and carry you whither you wish not." Now this He spake, signifying by what manner of death he would glorify God. And, having spoken this, He saith to him, "Follow Me."

that the blood of all the prophets, which has been shed from the founding of the world, may be required of this generation??51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah who perished between the altar and the house??ea, I say to you, it shall be required of this generation.'

Not yet did ye resist unto blood, contending against sin;

For John said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." And Herodias was holding it against him, and was wishing to kill him; and she could not; for Herod was fearing John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he was preserving him. read more.
And, an opportune day having come, when Herod, on his birthday, made a supper for his nobles and for the chief captains, and the chief men of Galilee; and the daughter of Herodias herself coming in and dancing, it pleased Herod and those reclining at table with him; and the king said to the damsel, "Ask of me whatsoever you wish, and I will give it to you." And he swore to her, "Whatsoever you ask of me, I will give it to you, unto half of my kingdom." And, having gone out, she said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" And she said, "The head of John the Immerser." And, coming in straight-way, in haste, to the king, she asked, saying, "I wish that you would, forthwith, give me on a dish, the head of John the Immerser." And, though becoming very sorrowful, the king, because of his oaths, and those reclining with him, would not thwart her. And the king, straightway sending off one of his guard, gave orders to bring his head; and, departing, he beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head on a dish, and gave it to the damsel, and the damsel gave it to her mother.

and, having thrust him forth outside of the city, they kept stoning him! And the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man called Saul. And they were stoning Stephen, calling and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" And, kneeling down, he cried with a loud voice, "Lord, lay not this sin to them!" And, having said this, he fell asleep.

And the king, straightway sending off one of his guard, gave orders to bring his head; and, departing, he beheaded him in the prison,

and, having thrust him forth outside of the city, they kept stoning him! And the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man called Saul.

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

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

but emptied Himself, taking a slave's form, coming to be in the likeness of men;

For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure has arrived.

Then Paul answered, "What are ye doing, weeping and crushing my heart? For I am ready, not only to be bound, but to die at Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord Jesus."

And, if I bestow in morsels all my goods; and, if I give my body to he burned, but have not love, I am profited nothing.

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them; and judgment was given to them; and I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus, and because of the word of God; and such as worshiped not the beast, neither his image, and received not the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they lived, and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

"And brother will deliver up brother to death; and father, his child; and children will rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death.

And, when He opened the fifth seal, I saw, underneath the altar, the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they were holding.