21 Historical Christian Martyrs

JUST SAY'n: Reuters is reporting that On Sunday, the group known as ISIS or the Islamic State released video of what appeared to be 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians being beheaded on a beach in Libya. Those murders have been confirmed by both the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and a spokesman for the Coptic Church. 


The martyrs, residents of southern Egypt, were in Libya seeking employment and had been held for several weeks by a radical group claiming allegiance to Islamic State. 

In response, TheGuardian is reporting that both Libya and Egypt have targeted airstrikes on ISIS strongholds in the city of Darna, Libya which was occupied by the group last year. 

Prayers and hearts go out to the families of the brave Christian martyrs whose deaths continues a string of evil wrought by ISIS members in recent months.  However, it must be clear that what happened Sunday is not the result of some "Holy War". ISIS militants have murdered hostages regardless of faith.  And it is expected that nations in 2015 will avenge wanton attacks on their citizens, and this incident has proven to be no different. 

But Christianity both individually and collectively is a faith that is quite familiar with the cause of martyrdom for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Throughout history Christians have chosen to face death rather than denounce the savior of their souls.  And in honor of the brave Coptic 21, here is a list, taken from the Bible and Foxe's Book of Martyrs, of historical Christians who perished for the faith. 

1. John the Baptist(key figure of Christian belief): Was taken prisoner by Herod after he confronted him about taking his brother Peter's wife Herodias. Herod feared harming him because the people considered John a prophet. However, on Herod's birthday, the daughter of Heordias danced for him and it pleased him so much that he vowed her anything that she desired.  Prompted by her mother, she asked for the head of John the Baptist on a platter, which Herod reluctantly obliged. Matthew 14 - Coptic 21

2. Jesus Christ of Nazareth(Son of God, Savior of the World): Was taken prisoner in the Garden of Gethsemane by a large crowd carrying swords and clubs who were led by one of his own disciples, Judas Iscariot. He was taken to the high priest Caiaphas and subjected to false accusations from the high priest and the Jewish council.  No one was able to find fault with him, however, two individuals offered that “This man stated, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days.’” When questioned by the high priest whether or not he was the Christ, Jesus responded 
 “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.”

To this the chief priest tore his clothing and declared that Jesus was worthy of death; they beat him with their fist, slapped him and said "prophesy to us, oh Christ, who is the one who hit you".  Jesus was taken to the regional governor Pontius Pilate, who was warned by his wife to have nothing to do with his death. Pilate had him scourged and turned over to the Jews for crucifixion, which was carried out on a place called Golgotha or "place of a skull".  Matthew chaps. 26 and 27 - Coptic 21 

3. Saint Stephen, an early church Deacon, was the first martyr succeeding Christ as he was stoned to death while confronting and preaching to the murderers of Jesus. His death was followed by a persecution of Christians in which two thousand, including, Nicanor another Deacon, were martyered.  Coptic 21.  

4. James, the brother of John, son of Zebedee and relative to Jesus was beheaded 10 years after the death of Stephen. Herod Agrippa, recently made governor of the region, sought to please the Jews by attacking the leadership of the Christian Church. History reports that the accuser of James repented of his accusations, became a Christian and joined James in martyrdom. Timon and Parnemous also suffered martyrdom at that time.  Acts chap 12; A.D. 44 - Coptic 21

5.  Phillip, the first to carry the title "Disciple", was scourged, thrown in prison and later crucified in Heliopilis in Phrygia. A.D. 54 - Coptic 21

6.  St. Matthew of the Gospel carried the Gospel to Partha and Ethiopia, the latter of which is were he was martyred by use of a halberd(beheaded with an ax) in the city of Nadabah. A.D. 60 - Coptic 21

7. James, the brother of Jesus, was the Pastor of the early church in Jerusalem and author of the Epistle which bears his name. At the age of 94 he was beaten and stoned by Jews followed by having his brains spilled out as a result of a blow from a fuller's club. Coptic 21

8. Matthias replaced Judas who betrayed Christ. He was stoned in Jerusalem and then beheaded.  Coptic 21

9.  Andrew, the brother of Peter, preached the Gospel in Greece and the Asiatic region. Upon his arrival to Edessa, he was crucified on a cross which had two ends transversed into the ground.  This has come to be known as a St. Andrew's Cross which has been perverted into a bondage apparatus. 
Coptic 21

10. St. Mark was converted to Christianity by Peter of whom he served as an understudy and transcriber. It was under Peter's guidance that Mark wrote his Gospel. Mark was dragged to pieces by the people of Alexandria at Serapis, a place of idol worship.  Coptic 21

11. Peter, given the name "The Rock" by Christ suffered martyrdom, it is believed, in Rome with, at his own request, his head upside down on the cross.  Coptic 21

12. The Apostle Paul was author to many of the books of the New Testament. He was carried to Rome and remained prisoner there for 2 years, before being released. Afterward he preached the Gospel in Spain and France. He later returned to Rome where he was ordered to be crucified by Nero.  Coptic 21

13. Jude, or Thaddeus, was the brother of James. He was crucified in Edessa in A.D. 72.  Coptic 21

14. Bartholomew preached in several countries. He also translated the book of Matthew into the language of India and preached in that country were he was later bludgeoned to death by inhabitants of that country.  Coptic 21

15. Thomas, also called Didymus preached the Gospel in Partha and India. He was martyred with a spear by an indigenous priest. 

16. Luke, the author of the Gospel that bears his name and the Book of Acts was a traveling companion to the Apostle Paul. He was hanged from an olive tree in Greece.   Coptic 21

17. Simon, surnamed Zelotes, preached the Gospel in Mauritania in western Africa and in Britain, where he was crucified.  Coptic 21

18.  John the Beloved, founded the churches in Smyrna, Pergamos, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, and Thyatira. He was a residence of Ephesus who was ordered to Rome to stand trial. He was ordered to be boiled in a cauldron of oil from which he miraculously survived. Domitian ordered him banished to the island of Patmos and it was there that he wrote the book of Revelation. Domitian's successor Nerva had him recalled to Rome and he is the only apostle to escape a violent death.  Coptic 21

19. Barnabas was a teacher and traveling companion to the Apostle Paul. He was Jewish but of Cyprus origins. He was martyred in A. D. 73.  Coptic 21

20. The Third Persecution, under Trajan, A. D. 108.
"Nerva, succeeding Domitian, gave a respite to the sufferings of the Christians; but reigning only thirteen months, his successor Trajan, in the tenth year of his reign A. D. 108, began the third persecution against the Christians. While the persecution raged, Pliny 2d, a heathen philosopher wrote to the emperor in favor of the Christians; to whose epistle Trajan returned this indecisive answer: "The Christians ought not to be sought after, but when brought before the[21] magistracy, they should be punished." Trajan, however, soon after wrote to Jerusalem, and gave orders to his officers to exterminate the stock of David; in consequence of which, all that could be found of that race were put to death..."  
Coptic 21

21.  The fourth persecution, under Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, A. D. 162.
 
"This commenced A. D. 162, under Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Philosophus, a strong pagan.
The cruelties used in this persecution were such, that many of the spectators shuddered with horror at the sight, and were astonished at the intrepidity of the sufferers. Some of the martyrs were obliged to pass, with their already wounded feet, over thorns, nails, sharp shells, &c. upon their points, others were scourged till their sinews and veins lay bare, and after suffering the most excruciating tortures that could be devised, they were destroyed by the most terrible deaths.
Germanicus, a young man, but a true christian, being delivered to the wild beasts on account of his faith, behaved with such astonishing courage, that several pagans became converts to a faith which inspired such fortitude.

Polycarp, the venerable bishop of Smyrna, hearing that persons were seeking for him, escaped, but was discovered by a child. After feasting the guards who apprehended him, he desired an hour in prayer, which being allowed, he prayed with such fervency, that his guards repented that they had been instrumental in taking him. He was, however, carried before the proconsul, condemned, and burnt in the market-place. Twelve other christians, who had been intimate with Polycarp, were soon after martyred.

...It was observed by the spectators, that, after finishing his prayer at the stake, to which he was only tied, but not nailed as usual, as he assured them he should stand immoveable, the flames, on their kindling the fagots, encircled his body, like an arch, without touching him; and the executioner, on seeing this, was ordered to pierce him with a sword, when so great a quantity of blood flowed out as extinguished the fire. But his body, at the instigation of the enemies of the gospel, especially Jews, was ordered to be consumed in the pile, and the request of his friends, who wished to give it christian burial, rejected. They nevertheless collected his bones and as much of his remains as possible, and caused them to be decently interred."  Coptic 21 

Revelation 6:9-10 

9 When the Lamb broke 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 had maintained; 10 and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"

Christians have never been intimidated by thugs of any kind.

JUST SAY'n: