Were Peter and Paul both martyred?
Yes, both Peter and Paul were martyred. The epistles were written shortly before their martyrdom, which indicates that Paul's epistles and doctrine had been circulating for a long time. Peter could therefore conclude that his readers should desire the milk of the Word.
Les explains that these little epistles were written just shortly before Peter and Paul were both martyred. This means that Paul's epistles and Paul's doctrine had been out there a long time already, so Peter could come to this kind of conclusion in 1 Peter 2. Peter writes to the believing Jews of the dispersion, but that doesn't mean it doesn't apply to us. He uses the analogy of newborn babes desiring the milk of the Word so that they may grow thereby, and he speaks of Christ as the living stone, disallowed of men but chosen of God and precious. Believers also are living stones, built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood.