Martyr

From BibleEncyclopedia.Net

One who bears witness of the truth, and suffers death in the cause of Christ (Act_22:20; Rev_2:13; Rev_17:6). In this sense Stephen was the first martyr. The Greek word so rendered in all other cases is translated “witness.”

(1.) In a court of justice (Mat_18:16; Mat_26:65; Act_6:13; Act_7:58; Heb_10:28; 1Ti_5:19).

(2.) As of one bearing testimony to the truth of what he has seen or known (Luk_24:48; Act_1:8, Act_1:22; Rom_1:9; 1Th_2:5, 1Th_2:10; 1Jo_1:2).

mar´tẽr (μαρτύς, martús, Aeolic μαρτύρ, martúr):

One who gives heed, and so, a “witness,” so translated in numerous passages, both as of one bearing testimony, and also as of one who is a spectator of anything (see Witness). In the King James Version rendered “martyr” in Act_22:20, “thy martyr Stephen”; and Rev_2:13, “Antipas my faithful martyr”; also Rev_17:6, “the blood of the martyrs of Jesus,” where alone the American Standard Revised Version retains “martyrs.” These 3 passages are the beginning of the use of the word “martyr” for such witnesses as were faithful even unto death, its uniform modern use.