Peter (Simon)

BornUnknown
DiedUnknown
ParentsFather: Jonah1
ChildrenUnknown
Spouse(s)Married to unknown

His real name is Simon but Jesus gives him the name Peter2 (Rock). He was from Bethsaida3 and was a fisherman by trade.4 He worked with Andrew his brother and James and John5 the sons of Zebedee all of who became disciples of Jesus. He was introduced to Jesus by Andrew.6

He is always mentioned first in the lists of Jesus’ disciples and is mentioned the most of any of the disciples.

He seems to be an implusive man or perhaps a leader as he is often at the forefront of events with Jesus. He was the one who asked Jesus to join him on walking on water.7 He was the one who suggested to make booths for Jesus, Elijah and Moses at the transfiguration.8 When Jesus appeared to the disciples after his resurrection, Peter leaps from the boat9.

Peter is well known for his three denials of knowing Jesus in the hours leading up to his crucifixion10.

These are mirrored by his three confession of love for Jesus11

Peter After the Resurrection

After the death and resurrection of Jesus, it appears that Peter took the lead. He was the one who proposed the replacement of Judas12 with Matthias. On the Day of Pentecost he gave the first public address since the death of Christ that led to the conversion of 3000.13

After the miracles of the day of Pentecost (speaking in tongues) it says that the apostles performed signs and wonders14 but the next recorded in detail was performed by Peter in Acts 3 when he healed a man who was lame from birth15. This public miracle led to many thousands more believing in the Gospel16, the arrest of Peter (and John who was with him) and the attention of the authorities who were probably rudely shocked that the influence of Jesus was growing despite his public crucifixion17.

Despite admonishment by the council18 Peter (along with the other apostles) continued to preach the good news and was eventually arrested by the High priest and the Sadducees.19 The same night they were freed from prison by an angel20 and continued to preach in the temple. This baffled the council when the “prisoners” were called to stand before their judgement. The council sent guards and brought Peter (and other apostles21) to answer and agan commanded them to be silent about Jesus and his teachings22. Peter flat out refused and instead accused the council of murdering Jesus.23 This enraged the council who wanted to kill the apostles but Gamaliel, a highly honoured teached convinced them to let them go24 so they consoled themselves with beating Peter and the apostles instead25.

Peter was sent with John to Samaria after the success of Phillip in preaching the Good News26 to “pray and “lay hands” on the believers there so they could receive the Holy Spirit27. There he met Simon the Magician who saw that the Holy Spirit was passed on by the these men laying there hands on people. Simon offered money for this power and was firmly rebuked by Peter: “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!”28

Peter and the Gentiles

Peter returned to Jerusalem but preached at many of the Samaritan villages on the way29 most likely following Jesus’ example30. Sometime after this Peter was taught the important lesson that other Gentiles (non-Jews) were also to be told the Gospel. In Acts 10 Peter was shown a vision of unclean animals let down in a sheet and commanded by a voice to “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.31” Peter refused to do so because it was contrary to the law but the voice continued to say “What God has made clean, do not call common32.” This was done three times and left Peter quite confused33.

Immediately following this, a messenger arrived from Cornelius, a gentile centurion (soldier) who was also a faithful man34. Peter started to understand the lesson when he agreed to meet with him despite that also being an “unlawful” act35 according to the oral law of the time (no such commandment is found in the Old Testament). Cornelius recounted the visitor “in bright clothing” he had met and who had ordered him to send a message for Peter36 that resulted in the men Cornelius sent to contact Peter arriving just as Peter’s vision concluded. Peter correctly concluded that God was intending for the Gentiles also to hear the Good News37 and that lesson was promplty reinforced by the Holy Spirit being given to the Gentiles. Peter commanded those who had received the Holy Spirit to be baptised. This is significant because up until this point all the people baptised has been Jewish (or Proselytes38 – people who have adopted Judaism).

Despite this revelation, Peter still focussed primarily on preaching to the Jews as Paul was sent to the Gentiles39. Unfortunately Peter later reverted to his old Jewish customs in Antioch due to fear of offending some of the early believers who were still strong adherents to keeping to the law40. Paul corrected Peter and all those who had fallen back into these bad habits41.

Peter in Prison Again

The persecution of the believers increased with James the Disciple being executed by Herod Agrippa and Peter being imprisoned soon after at the feast of unleavened bread (the Passover).42 An angel rescued Peter again, although Peter originally though he was experiencing a vision instead of a literal jailbreak43. When he returned to his fellow believers this intially cause much confusion followed by amazement44. After this, Peter went to Caesarea45.

Peter later re-appears in Jerusalem at the “Jerusalem council” where the dispute of the application of the Jewish law to the Gentiles was disputed.46 Here Peter opened the proceedings with a testament of the revelations he received concern the Gentiles and he concludes that trying to force the Gentiles to follow the law was pointless since it was the grace of Jesus that brought salvation – not obedience to the law47.

Peter’s Writings

Peter wrote 3 letters:

  • 1 Peter
  • 2 Peter
  • 3 Peter
  1. Mat 16:17 ↩︎
  2. John 1:42 ↩︎
  3. John 1:44 ↩︎
  4. Mat 4:18 ↩︎
  5. Luke 5:10 ↩︎
  6. John 1:41-42 ↩︎
  7. Mat 14:28 ↩︎
  8. Mat 17:4 ↩︎
  9. John 21:7 ↩︎
  10. Mat 26:34 ↩︎
  11. John 21:17 ↩︎
  12. Acts 1:15 ↩︎
  13. Acts 2:41 ↩︎
  14. Acts 2:43 ↩︎
  15. Acts 3:2 ↩︎
  16. Act 4:4 ↩︎
  17. Acts 4:3 ↩︎
  18. Acts 4:18 ↩︎
  19. Acts 5:18 ↩︎
  20. Acts 5:19 ↩︎
  21. Acts 5:18 ↩︎
  22. Acts 5:28 ↩︎
  23. Acts 5:30 ↩︎
  24. Acts 5:39 ↩︎
  25. Acts 5:40 ↩︎
  26. Acts 8:14 ↩︎
  27. Acts 8:17 ↩︎
  28. Acts 8:20 ↩︎
  29. Acts 8:25 ↩︎
  30. John 4:40 ↩︎
  31. Acts 10:13 ↩︎
  32. Acts 10:15 ↩︎
  33. Acts 10:17 ↩︎
  34. Act 10:2 ↩︎
  35. Acts 10:28 ↩︎
  36. Acts 10:30 ↩︎
  37. Acts 10:34 ↩︎
  38. Acts 2:11 ↩︎
  39. Galatians 2:7 ↩︎
  40. Galatioons 2:11-12 ↩︎
  41. Galations 2:14 ↩︎
  42. Acts 12:3 ↩︎
  43. Acs 12:9 ↩︎
  44. Acts 12:16 ↩︎
  45. Acts 12:9 ↩︎
  46. Acts 15:5 ↩︎
  47. Acts 15:11 ↩︎