Courage and Conviction: the martyrs of Scripture
Discover the stories of martyrs from the Bible through works of art that picture their faith, courage and witness.
The Life of St Peter
St Peter was a fisherman who became a disciple of Christ, who chose him to become an apostle and the leader of the Church.
The Martyrdom of St Peter (2 Peter 1:13-15)
The New Testament refers to the execution of St Peter, which took place in Rome around 64 AD.
The Martyrdom of St Paul (2 Timothy 4:6-8)
Tradition has it that St Paul was beheaded in Rome during the reign of the Roman Emperor Nero.
The Martyrdom of St Stephen (Acts 6:1-8:3)
St Stephen was one of the Church’s first deacons and also, the first Christian to die for the faith. He helped to convert many new disciples, but his death also led to a great persecution of the Church.
The Beheading of St John the Baptist (Mark 6:17-29)
King Herod ordered the beheading of John the Baptist at the request of his stepdaughter, who had just performed a dance for him.
The Martyrs of the Maccabees (2 Maccabees 7:1-42)
In the Second Book of the Maccabees, we read of seven brothers and their mother who were martyred for refusing to break the Law of Moses.