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The Faithful Witness · The Martyr

Who Is Antipas?

Antipas — The Faithful Witness
Revelation 2 · Verse 13 · New American Standard Version
"I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells."

In the Bible, the man named Antipas is mentioned only in the Book of Revelation 2:13 — described as a martyr for the Christian faith, a "faithful witness" of Christ Jesus, dwelling and ministering where Satan had his seat (Pergamos). Antipas was a contemporary of the Apostle John, who penned the Book of Revelation.

Traditions originating within the Eastern Orthodox Christian church, around and after CE 1,000, paint a fuller picture. The traditional Antipas was reputed to be the Bishop of the Christian church at Pergamos, martyred for his faith because of his consistent faithful witnessing in the face of all the satanic evil present there.

When Antipas was advised: "Antipas, the whole world is against you!"

"Then I am against the whole world!"

Antipas was supposedly roasted alive in a hollow life-size bull, which had a bonfire under its belly, because Antipas refused to renounce his faith in Christ Jesus.

This Much Is Known For Sure

His faithful witnessing and eventual martyrdom for his unshakable faith in Christ Jesus are what earned Antipas mention in the pages of Holy Scripture, and a place in God's "Hall-of-Fame of Faith."