The Apostle Peter
2025-06-14
The apostle Peter was one of the twelve apostles appointed of Jesus. Let us consider what the Scriptures tell about him.
Background
Peter’s birth name was Simon, the son of Jonas or Barjona. “Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?” (John 21:15; cf. Matthew 16:17). He was married, and his mother-in-law lived with his family. “And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever” (Matthew 8:14). “Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?” (1 Corinthians 9:5).
Peter was a fisherman with his brother Andrew, who were from Bethsaida and fished on the Sea of Galilee. “And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers” (Matthew 4:18). “Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter” (John 1:44). He was fishing when the Lord called Him to follow Him.
The Calling of Peter
Andrew brought his brother to the Lord. Simon was called Peter from that day forward. “And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone” (John 1:42).
The name was significant because of his confession of Jesus being the Christ. “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). He was the first of many lively stones (1 Peter 2:5) that would believe on Jesus and make up a spiritual house for the Lord.
Because of the crowds, the Lord Jesus had Simon push out his fishing boat a bit to teach from the ship. Afterwards, Jesus told Peter to drop the net, despite a night of catching nothing. After catching a multitude of fish, Peter was astonished and recognized His lordship. “When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men” (Luke 5:8-10). More discussion here.
Peter’s Following of Jesus During Jesus’ Earthly Ministry
Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law, as alluded to previously. She had a fever, and the Lord healed her, and she who was just bedridden got up and waited on them.
When Jesus walked on the sea out to His disciples, Peter asked the Lord to enable him to walk out to Him. Peter walked out to Him, but the moment he minded the storm’s fierceness, he sunk. “And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” (Matthew 14:29-31). He learned to never take off His eyes from the Master and knew then that Jesus was the Son of God (Matthew 14:33).
Peter was the one whom Jesus told to catch the fish to obtain the tribute money. “Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee” (Matthew 17:27).
Peter was one who recognized early that Jesus was both Christ and the Son of God. We alluded to this before when he received the name Peter, or Cephas, meaning a rock or a stone. “He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:15-16). And again, “Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God” (John 6:68-69).
At the same time, he was rebuked in his zeal when Jesus predicted His upcoming passion. “And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men” (Mark 8:31-33).
The Apparent Preeminence of Peter
Peter is considered to be among the leaders of the apostles. We see this in the specific name given by Peter, as we saw before. However, when the twelve disciples are listed by name, He is always mentioned first (Matthew 10:2; Mark 3:16; Luke 6:14; Acts 1:13; 1 Corinthians 15:5).
Peter seems to be with a core subset of disciples in significant events. This subset typically consisted of Peter with James and John, his fishing partners. This includes the raising of Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:37; Luke 8:51); the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1; Mark 9:2; 2 Peter 1:16-18); the preparing of the Passover (Luke 22:8; just Peter and John); the Olivet Discourse (Mark 13:3; which includes also Andrew); and Gethsemane (Matthew 26:37; Mk 14:32-33).
Peter was mentioned separately from the other disciples when the women were to announce the Lord being risen: “But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you” (Mark 16:7). Mary Magdalene went specifically to Peter to tell of what she saw: “The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him” (John 20:1-2). Peter ran to the grave in response.
After Jesus’ resurrection, Peter was the one who addressed all the disciples when appointing Judas Iscariot’s replacement. He is the chief preacher at Pentecost (Acts 2:14-41; 3:11-26).
Peter was named as someone people followed at Corinth. “Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:12-13). People recognized Peter as an authority and followed him as a distinct figure in and of himself.
Peter was considered a pillar of the church in Judaea by many. “And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision” (Galatians 2:9).
Peter was chosen of the Lord to be the first to preach to the Gentiles. “And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do” (Acts 10:5-6). From there, Peter recalled the event to people back in Jerusalem that they may know that non-Jews can be saved without any submission to the laws and customs (Acts 11:1-18; 15:7-11).
Miracles Wrought by Peter
The Lord used Peter to perform many miracles. “Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them” (Acts 5:15). “And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately” (Acts 9:34). “But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up” (Acts 9:40).
Peter and Jesus Around the Events of the Passion
During the Passover, that is, the Last Supper, Jesus revealed to Peter that he would deny Him three times by sunrise. Peter, in all his impulsive zeal, promised that he would follow Jesus to his death. “Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples” (Matthew 26:33-35).
However, we see that exuberance fade. Though commanded to watch, Peter fell asleep in Gethsemane. “And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:40-41). Though Peter was there with the sons of Zebedee, it was Peter who was addressed and rebuked by the Lord.
After the Lord’s arrest, Peter followed Him afar off. “Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest’s house. And Peter followed afar off” (Luke 22:54).
Peter surely denied Him at least three times, though it was more like six times, three before each rooster crowing. Once promising boldness in following Christ, the leader of the apostles succumbed to fear over the servant girls’ questioning. “Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee” (Matthew 26:69).
After his denials of Jesus, Peter remembered he had just did what the Lord predicted he would. “Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly” (Matthew 26:74-75).
When hearing the grave was empty, Peter ran to the grave: “Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass” (Luke 24:12). He was not sure what would happen next, not knowing the Scriptures or the frequent instructions of Jesus.
He eventually went back to fishing. “Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing” (John 21:3). But there the Lord appeared to him, challenging him, if he loved Him, to feed His sheep. “He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not” (John 21:17-18). Peter was to leave his vocation and provide spiritually for the house of God. Here also, Peter was told that he would die for the Lord.
Peter’s Transformation
After the Lord ascended, Peter and the others were transformed. Before the resurrection and ascension, Peter was filled with impulsive zeal. One minute he promised to follow the Lord even if he were to die, hacking off an ear of one of those who would arrest Him (John 18:10-11). Then he was hiding from the authorities and cowering before servant girls. One minute he would never have Jesus wash his feet, and the next he would have Him wash him entirely: “Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head” (John 13:8-9).
After that, once the Spirit descended on Him at Pentecost, he was no longer that man with fluctuating zeal for the Lord. Now, he had controlled zeal, preaching in the face of those who killed the Lord. “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner” (Acts 4:10-11). What a transformation, but it was the Spirit that made the difference.
Now, he was the one confronting Ananias and Sapphira over their lies. He is rebuking Simon the sorcerer over his covetousness. He kept preaching after arrests and beatings and death sentences. He was not a perfect man, having inconsistently treated Gentile believers (Galatians 2:11). This was the exception, not the rule.
Peter wrote two epistles to believers throughout the world. He emphasized the living hope for the future while withstanding suffering in this life. He taught about proper relationships in the church. He warned of false prophets and scoffers in the last days. The Spirit used him to author these, as well as (so it is believed) the Gospel of Mark.
The Rest of Peter’s Life
In the Scriptures, we do not see what happens for the rest of Peter’s life. After Acts 12, we start seeing a shift from missions to Jews to missions to Gentiles. Therefore, it is of a necessity that the book emphasize the work of the Spirit through Paul, apostle to the Gentiles, and not Peter, the apostle to the Jews. “For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles” (Galatians 2:8).
We do not see Peter after the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15. We know that Peter was told by Jesus that he would be executed. Quoting Dionysius, bishop of Corinth, Eusebius mentioned that Peter and Paul were executed at the same time. “You have thus by such an admonition bound together the planting of Peter and of Paul at Rome and Corinth. For both of them planted and likewise taught us in our Corinth. And they taught together in like manner in Italy, and suffered martyrdom at the same time” (Eusebius, Church History, Book 2, Chapter 25, Paragraph 8)
Clement also spoke of Peter’s execution. “Let us place before our eyes the good Apostles. Peter, through unjust envy, endured not one or two but many labours, and at last, having delivered his testimony, departed unto the place of glory due to him” (1 Clement 5:3-4; C.H. Hoole, translator)
Legend even says Peter was crucified upside down. “I beseech you the executioners, crucify me thus, with the head downward and not otherwise: and the reason wherefore, I will tell unto them that hear” (Acts of Peter 37, M.R. James, translator)
Whatever it may be, Peter went from a fisherman from some town in Galilee to being transformed by the risen Christ and the Holy Spirit. He was an apostle among others who turned the world upside down.