John confirms that Jesus was the divine Word through whom God created the universe: "All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made" (John 1:1-3 John 1:1-3 [1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] The same was in the beginning with God. [3] All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
American King James Version×; John 1:14 John 1:14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelled among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
American King James Version×).

Paul states directly that "God . . .created all things through Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 3:9 Ephesians 3:9And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world has been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
American King James Version×). He elsewhere writes of Jesus: "For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him" (Colossians 1:16 Colossians 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
American King James Version×). He adds in verse 17, "and in Him all things consist" (Colossians 1:17 Colossians 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
American King James Version×).

The Old Testament presents God as Creator of the universe (Genesis 1:1 Genesis 1:1In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
American King James Version×; Isaiah 40:25-28 Isaiah 40:25-28 [25] To whom then will you liken me, or shall I be equal? said the Holy One. [26] Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who has created these things, that brings out their host by number: he calls them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one fails. [27] Why say you, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God? [28] Have you not known? have you not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, faints not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
American King James Version×). When the early Christians said Jesus was the One through whom all things were created, they were clearly saying that Jesus is God.

Jesus claimed to be all that God is, and the disciples believed and taught it. They understood that Jesus was "the exact expression of His [the Father’s] nature" (Hebrews 1:3 Hebrews 1:3Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:
American King James Version×, HCSB) and "the image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15 Colossians 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
American King James Version×), and that "in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily" (Colossians 2:9 Colossians 2:9 For in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
American King James Version×, NRSV).

They understood precisely who He was and still is from His own words and actions. There was no question in their minds. They had seen Him prove it time and time again. They would go to their martyrdom firm in this conviction.