29 Bible Verses about Martyrdom
Most Relevant Verses
And when He had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held.
And white robes were given to each one of them. And it was said to them that they should rest yet for a little time, until both their fellow servants and their brothers (those about to be killed as they were) should have their number made complete.
And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was poured out, I also was standing by and consenting to his death, and holding the garments of those who killed him.
I know your works, and where you live, even where Satan's seat is . And you hold fast My name and have not denied My faith, even in those days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwells.
And they cried with a loud voice, saying, Until when, Master, holy and true, do You not judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?
And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the Word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast nor his image, nor had received his mark on their foreheads, nor in their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
And I heard a voice from Heaven saying to me, Write, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they shall rest from their labors, and their works follow them.
And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with a great marveling.
He spoke this signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, Follow Me.
Remember those leading you, who have spoken to you the Word of God, whose faith follow, considering the end of their conduct:
And though I give out all my goods to feed the poor, and though I deliver my body to be burned, and have not charity, I am profited nothing.
And I said to him, Sir, you know. And he said to me, These are the ones who came out of the great tribulation and have washed their robes, and have whitened them in the blood of the Lamb.
And I heard a great voice saying in Heaven, Now has come the salvation and power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of His Christ. For the accuser of our brothers is cast down, who accused them before our God day and night.
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for your reward in Heaven is great. For so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
I know your works and tribulation and poverty (but you are rich), and I know the blasphemy of those saying themselves to be Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the temple. Truly I say to you, It shall be required of this generation.
But being full of the Holy Spirit, looking up intently into Heaven, he saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
But if you also suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. And do not fear their fear, nor be troubled,
And kneeling down, he cried with a loud voice, Lord, do not lay this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Then they will deliver you up to be afflicted and will kill you. And you will be hated of all nations for My name's sake.
quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the strangers.
From Thematic Bible
Martyrdom » Instances of » The prophets
so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Berachiah, whom you killed between the temple and the altar.
who both killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, also driving us out and they do not please God and being contrary to all men,
And the rest took his servants and treated them spitefully, and killed them.
"Lord, they killed Your prophets and dug down Your altars, and I am left alone, and they seek my life."
And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah; also David, and Samuel and the prophets, who through 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 were made strong, became valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the strangers. read more.
Women received their dead raised to life again, and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings; yes, more, of bonds and imprisonments. 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.
Martyrdom » Exemplified
not as Cain who was of the evil one, and killed his brother. And for what did he kill him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's things were righteous.
And Cain talked with his brother Abel. And it happened when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.
for it happened when Jezebel cut off the prophets of Jehovah, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)
And Saul, still breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
And he said, I have been very zealous for Jehovah the God of Hosts. For the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, thrown down Your altars, and have slain Your prophets with the sword. And I, I alone, am left. And they seek to take my life away.
Martyrdom » Saints » Forewarned of
Then they will deliver you up to be afflicted and will kill you. And you will be hated of all nations for My name's sake.
They shall put you out of the synagogue. But an hour is coming that everyone who kills you will think that he bears God service.
And brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. And the children shall rise up against their parents and cause them to be put to death.
Martyrdom » The apostacy guilty of inflicting
And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with a great marveling.
And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all those who were slain on the earth.
Martyrdom » Inflicted at the instigation of the devil
Do not at all fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the Devil will cast some of you into prison, so that you may be tried. And you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful to death, and I will give you the crown of life.
I know your works, and where you live, even where Satan's seat is . And you hold fast My name and have not denied My faith, even in those days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwells.
Martyrdom » Reward of
Do not at all fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the Devil will cast some of you into prison, so that you may be tried. And you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful to death, and I will give you the crown of life.
And white robes were given to each one of them. And it was said to them that they should rest yet for a little time, until both their fellow servants and their brothers (those about to be killed as they were) should have their number made complete.
Martyrdom » Is death endured for the word of God, and testimony of Christ
And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the Word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast nor his image, nor had received his mark on their foreheads, nor in their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
And when He had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held.
Martyrdom » Saints » Should not fear
Do not at all fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the Devil will cast some of you into prison, so that you may be tried. And you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful to death, and I will give you the crown of life.
And do not fear those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. But rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Martyrdom » Exemplified » Ahimelech and his fellow priests
And the king said to Doeg, You turn and fall on the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned and fell on the priests. And on that day he killed eighty-five persons who wore a linen ephod. And he struck Nob, the city of the priests, with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and babes, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.
Martyrdom » Saints » Should be prepared for
Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life shall lose it, and whoever desires to lose his life for My sake shall find it.
Martyrdom » Exemplified » Antipas
I know your works, and where you live, even where Satan's seat is . And you hold fast My name and have not denied My faith, even in those days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwells.
Martyrdom » Exemplified » Urijah
And they brought Urijah out of Egypt and brought him to Jehoiakim the king, who killed him with the sword and threw his dead body into the graves of the common people.
Martyrdom » Exemplified » Peter
Truly, truly, I say to you, When you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you wished. But when you grow old, you shall stretch forth your hands and another shall gird you and carry you where you do not wish. He spoke this signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, Follow Me.
Martyrdom » Of saints, shall be avenged
so that the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the temple. Truly I say to you, It shall be required of this generation.
Martyrdom » Instances of » Zechariah
And they conspired against him and stoned him with stones at the command of the king in the court of the house of Jehovah. And Joash the king did not remember the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but killed his son. And when he died, he said, Jehovah will seek you out.
Martyrdom » Saints » Should resist sin unto
Martyrdom » Instances of » Prophets killed by jezebel
for it happened when Jezebel cut off the prophets of Jehovah, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)
Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of Jehovah, how I hid a hundred men of Jehovah's prophets by fifty in a cave and fed them with bread and water?
Martyrdom » Instances of » John the baptist
and John had said to Herod, It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife. And Herodias held it against him, and desired to kill him, but she could not. For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man. And he kept him safe. And when he heard him, he did many things and heard him gladly. read more.
And a convenient day came, when Herod made a supper to great men on his birthday, and to the chiliarchs, and to the first ones of Galilee. And when the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced and pleased Herod, and those who reclined with him, the king said to the girl, Ask me whatever you desire from me, and I will give it to you. And he swore to her, Whatever you shall ask from me, I will give it to you, 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 Baptist. And immediately going in with haste to the king, she asked, saying, I desire that you give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter. And becoming deeply grieved, the king, because of his oath, and those reclining together, he did not wish to reject her. And immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head in a platter and gave it to the girl. And the girl gave it to her mother.
Martyrdom » Instances of » Stephen
And throwing him outside the city, they stoned him. And the witnesses laid their clothes down at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen, who was calling on God and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And kneeling down, he cried with a loud voice, Lord, do not lay this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Martyrdom » Exemplified » John the baptist
And immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in the prison,
Martyrdom » Exemplified » Stephen
And throwing him outside the city, they stoned him. And the witnesses laid their clothes down at the feet of a young man named Saul.
Martyrdom » Exemplified » James
Martyrdom » Instances of » Abel
And in the end of days, it happened, Cain brought to Jehovah an offering of the fruit of the ground. And Abel also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat of it. And Jehovah had respect to Abel and to his offering, but He did not have respect to Cain and to his offering. And Cain glowed with anger, and his face fell. read more.
And Jehovah said to Cain, Why have you angrily glowed? And why did your face fall? If you do well, shall you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin crouches at the door; and its desire is for you, and you shall rule over it. And Cain talked with his brother Abel. And it happened when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.
Martyrdom » Instances of » James the apostle
Sacrifices » Illustrative of » Martyrdom
but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.
Suffering for righteousness' sake » Martyrdom » General references to
Then Paul answered, What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For 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 out all my goods to feed the poor, and though I deliver my body to be burned, and have not charity, I am profited nothing.
And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the Word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast nor his image, nor had received his mark on their foreheads, nor in their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
And brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. And the children shall rise up against their parents and cause them to be put to death.
And when He had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held.
Topics on Martyrdom
Martyrdom Of The Saints
Matthew 10:21And brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. And the children shall rise up against their parents and cause them to be put to death.
Martyrdom, Believers Attitude Towards
Matthew 10:21-22And brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. And the children shall rise up against their parents and cause them to be put to death.
Martyrdom, Examples Of
Genesis 4:8And Cain talked with his brother Abel. And it happened when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.
Martyrdom, Qualities Of
Daniel 3:16-18Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to return a word to you on this matter.
Martyrdom, Reasons For
Daniel 3:6And whoever does not fall down and worship, at that moment they will be thrown into the middle of a burning fiery furnace.