Michael Sattler was born in Germany about 1490. At an early age he entered a Benedictine Monastery where he learned Greek and Latin, and where he studied Paul’s Epistles. Through the Word of God, the Holy Spirit brought Michael to the truth of the gospel, after which he broke all ties with the Church of Rome. When King Ferdinand announced his policy of heresy extermination, Michael and his wife fled to Switzerland, where he came under the teaching of Wilhelm Reublin, and where he became an Anabaptist. As Sattler became more and more well known as a preacher of the Truth, the Catholic government one day arrested him along with his wife and fourteen others. When their “trial” began, the judges laughed at him, declaring, “Oh you infamous, desperate villain and monk, you would have us engage with you in a discussion. The executioner will dispute with you…” Sattler simply said, “Let the will of God be done.”
Sattler’s execution took place on this day in 1527. Its atrocities are too horrendous to describe. I’ll just say that it is amazing that with only part of his tongue remaining, and flames leaping up around him, he could pray, “Almighty God, Thou art the Way and the Truth; because I have not been shown to be in error, I will with Thy help this day testify to the truth and seal it with my blood.” And that is what he did.
After using various means to secure a recantation from Mrs. Sattler – without success – this Christian woman was drowned eight days later and was reunited with her husband in the presence of the Lord.
– Source: “This Day in Baptist History, II” Thompson and Cummins