Peter (John 1:35–42; Matthew 4:18–20; Luke 5:1–11; Matthew 14:22–33; John 6:60–69; Matthew 16:13–23; Luke 22:31–34; Luke 22:54–62; John 21; Acts 2:14–41; Acts 3:1–4:22; Acts 10; Acts 12:1–19; Acts 15:6–11; Galatians 2:9; 1 Peter 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1)

Simon, Called Cephas, a Fisherman of Galilee

A fisherman brought to Jesus by his brother Andrew, named Peter by Jesus, who confessed him as the Christ, denied him three times, was told to feed his sheep, and then spoke for the apostles in Jerusalem and to the household of Cornelius.

Peter is first named Simon, the son of John. His brother Andrew brought him to Jesus, who said, “Thou art Simon the son of John: thou shalt be called Cephas (which is by interpretation, Peter)” (John 1:42). Jesus later called him and Andrew from their nets: “Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left the nets, and followed him” (Matthew 4:19-20).

The Gospels show him quick to speak and to act: stepping from the boat onto the waters (Matthew 14:28-31), answering for the Twelve (John 6:68-69), confessing Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16), and then denying him three times in the high priest's court (Luke 22:54-62). After the resurrection Jesus asked him three times, “Lovest thou me?” (John 21:17), and said “Feed my sheep” (John 21:17).

In Acts he addresses the people at Jerusalem (Acts 2:14), heals a lame man at the temple (Acts 3:6-8), stands before the rulers (Acts 4:8-13), and goes to the household of Cornelius (Acts 10:44-48). At the gathering in Acts 15 he speaks to the question about the Gentiles (Acts 15:7-11). Two letters in the New Testament carry his name (1 Peter 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1); Christians differ on who wrote them.

Strengths

• Readiness to follow
• Confession of Jesus
• Bold witness
• Grief over his failure

Weaknesses

• Fear under pressure
• Impulsiveness
• Wavering faith
• Overconfidence
• Misreading Jesus' path

Themes

• Discipleship
• Confession
• Failure and restoration
• Shepherding
• The gospel to the Gentiles

Brought to Jesus by Andrew (John 1:40–42)

Andrew finds his brother Simon and brings him to Jesus, who names him Cephas, that is, Peter.

Called from the nets (Matthew 4:18–20; Luke 5:1–11)

Jesus calls Simon and Andrew by the sea of Galilee, and they leave the nets and follow him.

Peter walks on the waters (Matthew 14:28–31)

Peter asks to come to Jesus on the waters, sees the wind, begins to sink, and is taken hold of.

Words of eternal life (John 6:60–69)

When many disciples go back, Peter answers for the Twelve: to whom shall we go?

Peter answers at Cæsarea Philippi (Matthew 16:13–23)

Asked who Jesus is, Peter answers that he is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and Jesus speaks to him of a rock and of keys.

Peter answers at Cæsarea Philippi

Jesus asked, “But who say ye that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).

Jesus answered: “And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 16:18-19).

Christians differ on what the rock is and on what the keys give Peter, and on whether anything passed from him to others; the text of the verses is the same for all.

Within the same chapter Jesus tells the disciples he must go to Jerusalem and be killed. Peter “began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord” (Matthew 16:22), and Jesus answers, “Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art a stumbling-block unto me” (Matthew 16:23).

Peter says he will not deny Jesus (Matthew 26:33–35; Luke 22:31–34)

Peter says he will never be offended, even if he must die with Jesus, and is told he will deny him thrice.

Peter denies Jesus (Luke 22:54–62; Mark 14:66–72)

In the court of the high priest's house Peter says three times that he does not know Jesus, the cock crows, and he weeps.

Peter denies Jesus

Earlier Jesus had told him, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat: but I made supplication for thee, that thy faith fail not; and do thou, when once thou hast turned again, establish thy brethren” (Luke 22:31-32).

Peter “followed afar off” (Luke 22:54) into the high priest's house. Three times he was named as one of those with Jesus, and three times he refused: “Woman, I know him not” (Luke 22:57); “Man, I am not” (Luke 22:58); “Man, I know not what thou sayest” (Luke 22:60).

“And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord… And he went out, and wept bitterly” (Luke 22:61-62).

Feed my sheep (John 21:1–8; John 21:15–19)

At the sea of Tiberias Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him and tells him to feed his lambs and sheep.

Feed my sheep

After a night of fishing, Peter hears that it is the Lord and casts himself into the sea (John 21:7). On the shore Jesus asks him three times, “Simon, son of John, lovest thou me?” (John 21:15-17).

Each time Peter answers that Jesus knows he loves him. Jesus answers with “Feed my lambs” (John 21:15), “Tend my sheep” (John 21:16) and “Feed my sheep” (John 21:17). “Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me?” (John 21:17).

Jesus then speaks of Peter's old age, “signifying by what manner of death he should glorify God” (John 21:19), and says, “Follow me” (John 21:19).

Peter speaks to Jerusalem (Acts 2:14; Acts 2:37–41)

Standing up with the eleven, Peter speaks to the men of Judæa and Jerusalem; those who receive his word are baptized, and about three thousand souls are added.

The lame man and the rulers (Acts 3:1–8; Acts 4:8–13; Acts 4:19–20)

Peter and John heal a lame man at the temple door; Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, speaks to the rulers.

Peter and the household of Cornelius (Acts 10:1–2; Acts 10:34–35; Acts 10:44–48)

At Cæsarea the Holy Spirit falls on those who hear Peter, and he commands them to be baptized.

Peter speaks about the Gentiles (Acts 15:7–11)

Peter says God made no distinction between Jew and Gentile, cleansing hearts by faith.

Peter speaks about the Gentiles

“And when there had been much questioning, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Brethren, ye know that a good while ago God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe” (Acts 15:7).

He adds that God “made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith” (Acts 15:9), and ends, “But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in like manner as they” (Acts 15:11).

This is the last time Acts records Peter speaking. Galatians names Cephas with James and John as “reputed to be pillars” (Galatians 2:9); the New Testament says little more of his later work, and Christians differ on what his role was afterwards and what it means for the church today.

Jesus (John 1:42; Matthew 16:15–19; John 21:15–19)

Called him from the nets, named him Peter, asked him three times if he loved him, and told him to feed his sheep.

Andrew (John 1:40–42; Matthew 4:18–20)

His brother, who brought him to Jesus and was called with him by the sea.

James, Son of Zebedee (Luke 5:8–11; Mark 5:37; Mark 9:2; Mark 14:33)

A partner of Simon in fishing, and one of the three Jesus took with him up the mountain and when he began to be greatly amazed, and sore troubled.

John, Son of Zebedee (Luke 5:8–11; Mark 3:16–17; Acts 3:1; Acts 4:13; Acts 8:14)

With his brother James a partner of Simon in fishing; named with him among the twelve; went up with Peter to the temple, was before the rulers with him, and was sent with him to Samaria.

Peter's wife's mother (Matthew 8:14–15; Mark 1:29–31)

Lay sick in Peter's house and was healed by Jesus.

Mary Magdalene (John 20:1–2)

Came to the tomb early and ran to Simon Peter and the other disciple, saying they had taken the Lord out of the tomb.

Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:15–20)

Peter stood up among the brethren and spoke of him: he was numbered among them and received his portion in this ministry.

Cornelius (Acts 10:1–2; Acts 10:44–48)

A centurion at Cæsarea whose household received the Holy Spirit as Peter spoke.

Paul (Galatians 2:7–14; Acts 15:7–12)

With James and John, Cephas gave Paul and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; Paul also tells that he resisted Cephas to the face at Antioch.

John Mark (Acts 12:11–12; 1 Peter 5:13)

Peter came to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, after leaving prison; the letter that bears Peter’s name sends the greeting of “Mark my son” (1 Peter 5:13).

James, the Lord’s brother (Acts 12:17; Galatians 1:18–19)

Peter asked that James and the brethren be told how the Lord brought him out of prison; Paul saw James when he visited Cephas.

Herod the king (Acts 12:1–5; Acts 12:6–9)

Seized Peter and put him in prison after killing James; Peter was released in the night.

Major sections

• Matthew 16:13–23
• Luke 22:54–62
• John 21:1–23
• Acts 2–5
• Acts 10
• Acts 12:1–19
• Acts 15:6–11

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