February 23, 155 - Polycarp Martyred

The New Testament reveals that Jesus gave a great deal of authority to the apostles after His ascension into heaven. While the Bible gives us insight into their works, we know less about the generation of leaders that followed the apostles. One of these leaders was Polycarp, bishop of the church at Smyrna. He was under the tutelage of John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, and followed his example of battling heresies. Polycarp was martyred on February 23, 155 AD.