If anyone told you that becoming a Christian would be easy, they lied to you. Indeed, in 2 Timothy 3:12, God said:

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”  

Even C.S. Lewis said: 

“If you’re thinking of becoming a Christian, I warn you, you’re embarking on something, which will take the whole of you.”

I was reading Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, written by John Foxe, and came across how some of the first Christians who walked with Jesus were martyred for His sake. I have paraphrased the list below, which includes the Apostles.

James, the son of Zebedee, was put to death by order of King Herod Agrippa ten years after Stephen’s death (recorded in Acts 6:8-8:3). James’ death is recorded in Acts 12:1-2:

“Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.” 

According to Clemens Alexandrinus, a witness of the death, the person who accused James repented of his sins just as James was brought out and then professed himself to be a Christian, determined that James would not die alone. Thus, they were both beheaded in A.D. 44.

Philip was the first person to be called a disciple in the Bible. He was killed ten years after James, in A.D. 54. He was whipped, thrown into prison, and later crucified. This took place in Heliopolis, Phrygia (Upper Asia).

Matthew worked in Ethiopia and Parthia. He was killed with a halberd (part spear and part battleaxe) in Nadabah, Ethiopia in A.D. 60.

James, the son of Alphaeus, lived to be 94 years old. He was killed by the Jews – having his brains bashed out with a club after being beaten and stoned. 

Matthias, who took Judas’ place of the 12 disciples (note that God did not handpick him as He had for the original 12 – the remaining 11 gambled and the lots fell on him, shown below in Acts 1:23-26). He was beheaded in Jerusalem after being stoned.

“And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, that he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.” 

Andrew, Peter’s brother, was martyred in Edessa by crucifixion, although the cross had two ends fixed transversely in the ground (in an X-shape).

Mark was martyred in Alexandria, where the people dragged him to pieces under the idol Serapis. 

Peter was suspected to be martyred in Rome, although there are some doubts. However, all agree that he was crucified upside down at his own request, stating that he was unworthy to die in the same way that Jesus did.

Paul was beheaded. Nero had sent two esquires to bring back confirmation that he was dead. These two spoke to Paul before his demise and asked him to tell them how to be saved. 

Jude, who had been called Thaddeus and who was the brother of James, was crucified in A.D. 72 in Edessa.

Bartholomew was martyred in India, where he was beaten and then crucified.

Thomas, also called Didymus, was a missionary to Parthia and India. The pagan priests martyred him with a spear.

Luke was killed in Greece, where the priests hung him on an olive tree.

Simon was killed in Britain, in A.D. 74 by crucifixion. 

John, James’ brother, founded many churches in Smyrna, Philadelphia, and Laodicea, among others. He was the only apostle to die of old age. He had been cast into a pot of boiling oil in Rome and banished to the Isle of Patmos, where he penned the book of Revelations.

All of the apostles save for John were brutally murdered because they loved Christ. I’m sure right now you’re thinking about how horribly barbaric people were in those times and glad we live in this world now.

This did not stop when we humans became “more advanced”, as most claim we are today.

This is unfortunately still going on around the world. You can read my previous post on this here. Many Christians are being persecuted and killed for their faith. With the rise of wars, political skirmishes and turmoil, the number of Christians persecuted increased in 2024, and as of 2025 that number is already increasing. The increase in Christian persecution deserves an article of its own, but I wanted to give a brief introduction and some background before that one.

Until I post those other articles, feel free to investigate requests for prayers from Christians who are currently facing these trials. You will be shocked and appalled at everything that is going on in the world around us that we don’t even hear about.

If you would like to read more of Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, the full book is posted online at this site for free: https://www.biblestudytools.com/history/foxs-book-of-martyrs/ 

If you do not know 100% that you will be going to Heaven when you die, now is the time to repent and put your faith and trust in Christ Jesus. If you have any questions or doubts about your salvation, click here to read how you can be saved.

As always, feel free to leave any questions/comments below, or reach out to me here!

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version.