Adrien Jacobs Dirks (Anabaptist Martyr - Burned at the stake March 12th. 1568)

Adrien Jacobs Dirks (Anabaptist Martyr - Burned at the stake March 12th. 1568)

Adrien Jacobs Dirks was the oldest son of Jacobs Dirks, a tailor of Utrecht, Holland. The whole Dirks family, including, including the three sons and a daughter, worked together in the father’s business. As Adrien and his brother Hans grew into their middle teens, they accompanied their father to Anabaptist meetings. Both made their commitments to Christ as Lord, to live as his disciples, which brought deep personal peace to him, as well as great joy to their father.

In a sudden raid on Anabaptists, Adrien, his father, and his younger brother Hans were arrested and imprisoned in the infamous Steen Castle in Antwerp. They were sentenced to death by burning at the stake for their faith in Christ and their lives as disciples. On March 12^th 1568, they were led to the site of the execution.

At the site of the execution, each of them was tied to a separate stake. Jacob turned to Adrien and then to Hans and asked, “How is it my son?” Each answered, “Very well, my dear father.” They understood fully that he was asking about their faith and courage for these last moments. Their answer gave evidence also of the deep love and confidence which was between them.

The execution was carried out swiftly. The men were each strangled at the stake by a twist of the rope around the neck. Their bodies were then burned to ashes. Again the price was paid as summed up in Origen’s words: “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.”