16 Bible Verses about Martyrdom, Reasons For

Whoso then falleth not down and boweth himself, shall even the same hour be cast in to a hot burning oven."

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, an said, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we ought not to consent unto thee in this matter. For why? Our God whom we serve, is able to keep us from the hot burning oven, O king, and can right well deliver us out of thy hands: And if he will not, yet shalt thou know, O king, that we will not serve thy Gods, nor do reverence to the Image which thou hast set up."

All the great estates of the realm - as the princes, dukes, senators and judges - are determined to put out a commandment of the king, and to make a sure statute. Namely, that whoso desireth any petition, either of any god or man within this thirty days, except it be only of thee, O king: the same person may be cast into the lions' den.

And why? The ships of Chittim shall come upon him, that he may be smitten and turn again: that he may take indignation against the covenant of holiness, to meddle against it. Yea he shall turn him, and draw such unto him, as leave the holy covenant. He shall set mighty men to unhallow the Sanctuary of strength, and to put down the daily offering, and to set up the abominable desolation. And such as break the covenant shall he flatter with fair words. But the people that will know their God, shall have the overhand and prosper.read more.
Those also that have understanding among the people shall inform the multitude: and for a long season, they shall be persecuted with sword, with fire, with captivity and with the taking away of their goods.

And he had power to give a spirit unto the image of the beast, and that the image of the beast should speak, and should cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast, should be killed.

Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets, which exhorted them so earnestly, that they should convert unto thee, and did great blasphemies.

and said unto his servants, "This is John the Baptist; he is risen again from death, and therefore are such miracles wrought by him." For Herod had taken John and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife. For John said unto him, "It is not lawful for thee to have her."read more.
And when he would have put him to death, he feared the people, because they counted him as a prophet. But when Herod's birthday was come, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. Wherefore he promised with an oath, that he would give her whatsoever she would ask. And she, being informed of her mother before, said, "Give me here John Baptist's head in a platter." And the King sorrowed: nevertheless for his oath's sake, and for their sakes, which sat also at the table, he commanded it to be given her. And sent and beheaded John in the prison, and his head was brought in a platter, and given to the damsel, and she brought it to her mother. And his disciples came, and took up his body, and buried it: And went and told Jesus.

For Herod himself had sent forth, and had taken John, and bound him and cast him into prison for Herodias' sake, which was his brother Philip's wife. For he had married her. John said unto Herod, "It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife." Herodias laid wait for him, and would have killed him, but she could not.read more.
For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man, and a holy, and gave him reverence; And when he heard him he did many things, and heard him gladly. But when a convenient day was come: Herod on his birthday made a supper to the Lords, captains, and chief estates of Galilee. And the daughter of the said Herodias came in and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat at board also. Then the king said unto the maiden, "Ask of me what thou wilt, and I will give it thee." And he sware unto her, "Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, even unto the one half of my kingdom." And she went forth and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" And she said, "John Baptist's head." And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, "I will, that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John Baptist." And the king was sorry. Yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat at supper also, he would not put her beside her purpose. And immediately the king sent the hangman and commanded his head to be brought in. And he went and beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head in a charger and gave it to the maiden, and the maiden gave it to her mother. And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his body, and put it in a tomb.

"Ye stiffnecked and of uncircumcised hearts and ears: ye have always resisted the holy ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? And they have slain them, which showed before of the coming of that Just, whom ye have betrayed and murdered. And ye also have received a law by the ordinance of angels, and have not kept it."read more.
When they heard these things, their hearts clave asunder, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the holy ghost, looked up steadfastly with his eyes into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the righthand of God, and said, "Behold, I see the heavens open, and the son of man standing on the righthand of God." Then they gave a shout with a loud voice, and stopped their ears and all ran upon him at once, and cast him out of the city, and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, named Saul.

And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that came out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them: and shall overcome them, and kill them. And their bodies shall lie in the streets of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Eygpt, where our Lord was crucified. And they of the people and kindreds, and tongues, and they of the nations, shall see their bodies three days and a half, and shall not suffer their bodies to be put in graves.read more.
And they that dwell upon the earth, shall rejoice over them and be glad, and shall send gifts one to another: for these two prophets vexed them that dwelt on the earth.

Then shall they put you to trouble, and shall kill you, and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake:

Yea, and the brother shall deliver the brother to death. And the father the son, and the children shall rise against their fathers and mothers, and shall put them to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. But whosoever shall endure unto the end, the same shall be safe.

Yea, and ye shall be betrayed of your fathers and mothers, and of your brethren, and kinsmen, and lovers. And some of you shall they put to death. And hated shall ye be of all men for my name's sake.

and not be as Cain, which was of the devil and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? For his own deeds were evil, and his brother's righteous.

And in her forehead was a name written, a mystery: "Great Babylon, the mother of whoredom and abominations of the earth."

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