Herod, according to the New Testament, took great interest in the Magi, and the mass of people who accompanied them, when they stated they were seeking a child born "King of the Jews" (Matthew 2:2). He soon grew "exceedingly angry" (verse 16) with them, however, when they failed to tell him the exact location of the Christ child.
Herod's anger, coupled with his desire to protect his throne, led him to order the mass murder of all male children, two years old or younger, in and around Bethlehem. This cruel act secured his place as one of the most evil humans in the New Testament.
In a reference found only once in the New Testament (Luke 13:1), the Bible gives us brief details regarding a mass murder commanded by Pontius Pilate. This act is mentioned when Jesus is asked what he thought about Pilate's extermination of some Galileans as they gathered to offer animal sacrifices.
Now at the same time, there were present some who were telling Him about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices (Luke 13:1).
Although this particular event is not recorded in any other historical record, its occurrence fits Pilate's violent behavioral tendencies. He, as Rome's Prefect over Judea, was known for committing acts of murder.
The historian Josephus relates a New Testament period incidence where many Jews became angry over Pilate's construction of a water conduit into Jerusalem. In order to quell opposition, Pilate had Roman soldiers, dressed in street clothes, mingle with a large group of Jews he assembled.
After Pilate gave a previously agreed upon signal, the soldiers drew out hidden daggers and proceeded to hurt as many people as they could. This action caused a great number of unarmed Jews to be injured or killed in this planned mass murder.
"But Pilate undertook to bring a current of water to Jerusalem . . .However, the Jews were not pleased with what had been done about this water; and many ten thousands of the people got together, and made a clamor against him, and insisted that he should leave off that design.
"Some of them also used reproaches, and abused the man, as crowds of such people usually do. So he habited a great number of his soldiers in their habit, who carried daggers under their garments, and sent them to a place where they might surround them.
"So he bid the Jews himself go away; but they boldly casting reproaches upon him, he gave the soldiers that signal which had been beforehand agreed on; who laid upon them much greater blows than Pilate had commanded them, and equally punished those that were tumultuous . . . there were a great number of them slain by this means, and others of them ran away wounded." (Antiquities of the Jews, Book 18, Chapter 3, Section 2).
Saul's Slaughter
Zealous Pharisee Saul, before he became the apostle Paul, led the first concerted effort to mass persecute average Christians and not just the church's perceived leaders. He was the catalyst that caused the murder of many innocent Jewish people for the "crime" of believing Jesus was mankind's promised Messiah (Acts 26:9 - 11, 1Timothy 1:13). After Stephen's murder (Acts 6:9 - 15, 7:57 - 60) he became embolden to eradicate Christianity wherever it can be found.
Saul boldly entered people's homes and arrested any Jew who professed belief in Jesus (Acts 8:3). He was notorious for entering a synagogue and, upon finding anyone who believed in "the way" (Acts 9:2), had them beaten so severely that some even blasphemed God (Acts 22:19, 26:11). He would then throw them in prison to await their punishment.
Paul admitted, years later, that he intended all those he arrested and put in prison to be killed, of which many were (Acts 22:4, 26:10, Galatians 1:13). He carried the weight from the mass arrests he carried out, and the innocent people he helped murder, for the rest of his life.
Future Executions
The devil not only is the first being to commit murder, he also is the first and chief promoter of its practice (John 8:44, Matthew 24:9). According to the New Testament, he will soon commit this heinous crime on a massive scale. Through his possession of the Beast, and influence over a false prophet, Satan will soon carry out the mass extermination of all Christians (Revelation 6:10 - 11, 7:13 - 14, 12:11, etc.).
Satan's great deceptions will lead the rest of humanity to accept the "mark of the beast" and worship him. The masses who adopt the "mark," and are alive when the Day of the Lord begins, will be punished by death for refusing to repent (see Revelation 9:15, 14:20, 19:17 - 21).