William Tyndale (c. 1494–1536)

William Tyndale was an English scholar and Bible translator whose life was bent toward one aim: to make the Scriptures accessible to ordinary people in their own tongue. Convinced that God’s Word must be heard, read, and believed—not withheld behind clerical control—he labored to translate the New Testament into clear English. His work helped shape later English Bibles and strengthened a growing movement of reform grounded in the authority of Scripture.

Betrayal in Antwerp (May 21, 1535)

In Antwerp, a key trading city with shifting political and religious pressures, Tyndale found relative refuge among merchants and sympathizers. That safety ended when Henry Phillips, an Englishman who gained Tyndale’s trust, lured him from his lodging. In a narrow passage where escape was unlikely, Phillips pointed him out to Roman Catholic authorities. The incident is a sober reminder that gospel labor can draw treachery from those who appear friendly. “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:13)

Imprisonment at Vilvoorde

Tyndale was taken to the prison at Vilvoorde (near Brussels), where he endured long confinement. He did not deny the truth he had labored to give in English, and his steady endurance testified that the Word he translated was also the Word that sustained him. His suffering echoes the pattern of faithful service under pressure: “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10)

Martyrdom and Legacy

Tyndale would be strangled and burned, sealing his witness with his life. His final prayer—“Lord, open the King of England’s eyes”—showed love for his nation and confidence that God can turn rulers toward truth. Scripture commends this kind of courage: “Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10) Tyndale’s capture and death stand as a call to steadfastness: faithful servants press on, trusting that God’s Word will not be chained and that sacrifice in Christ’s service is never wasted.