28 Bible Verses about Martyrdom

that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.

who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to all men,

And the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them.

"Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life."

And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of justice, received promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, whose weakness was turned to strength, who became mighty in war, and put foreign armies to flight. read more.
Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. And others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated

and not be like Cain who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous.

Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,

Then they will deliver you up to tribulation, and put you to death; and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake.

They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.

Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.

And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered greatly.

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

Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful even until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to my name, and did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful even until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Then each of them were given a white robe, and they were told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren should be completed, who were to be killed as they had been.

Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom judgment was given. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony to Jesus and because of the word of God, and who had not worshipped the beast or his image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life, and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained;

Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful even until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to my name, and did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go." This he said to show by what death he would glorify God. And after this he said to him, "Follow me."

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 sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it shall be required of this generation.

In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

For John had said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John and protected him, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man. When he heard him, he was much perplexed; and yet he heard him gladly. read more.
But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his high officers and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. And when the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever you want, and I will give it to you." And he vowed to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom." So she went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" And she said, "The head of John the Baptist!" Immediately she came in with haste to the king and asked, saying, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter." And the king was exceedingly sorry; but, because of his oaths and his guests, he did not want to refuse her. And immediately the king sent an executioner and gave orders to bring his head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother.

Then they cast him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he fell on his knees and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

And immediately the king sent an executioner and gave orders to bring his head. He went and beheaded him in the prison,

Then they cast him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.

He had James the brother of John put to death with the sword.

He had James the brother of John put to death with the sword.

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

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.

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

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

Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom judgment was given. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony to Jesus and because of the word of God, and who had not worshipped the beast or his image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life, and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained;