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Peter

Portrait of Peter

Peter, originally a fisherman named Simon, was called by Jesus along the Sea of Galilee to become one of his first disciples, immediately leaving his nets to follow him. Despite his impulsive character and threefold denial of Jesus during the crucifixion, he was restored by the risen Christ and emerged as the recognized leader of the apostles. As a pillar of the early church, Peter preached at Pentecost, performed miracles, and helped guide the inclusion of Gentiles into the faith. His role underscores Scripture's emphasis on redemption and divine empowerment, as seen in Jesus' declaration that he would build his church upon this rock.

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Acts Overview (Part 1: Ch. 1-12)

Peter leads the early church as the Spirit empowers them to spread the good news.

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Biography

Born
c. 1 BC, Bethsaida
Died
c. AD 64-68, Rome (crucified upside down)
Occupation
Fisherman, Apostle
Father
Jonah (John)
Spouse
Unnamed wife
Era
New Testament
Nationality
Jewish, Galilean
Also Known As
Simon, Cephas

Family

Parents
โ†“
Peter โšญ Unnamed wife
New Testament New Testament Era Apostle Matthew

Did You Know?

1

Peter is the only disciple recorded as attempting to walk on water toward Jesus during a storm on the Sea of Galilee, sinking only after his faith wavered amid the wind and waves.

2

Though an uneducated fisherman, Peter delivered the Pentecost sermon in Acts that led to the baptism of about three thousand converts in a single day, marking the birth of the early church.

3

The Gospels note that Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law of a fever, confirming that the apostle was married at the time of his calling.

4

In Acts, the sick were laid in Jerusalem's streets hoping Peter's passing shadow would heal them, reflecting the extraordinary perception of his apostolic authority among early believers.

5

Peter's rooftop vision of a sheet filled with unclean animals directly challenged Jewish dietary laws and prepared him to baptize the Gentile Cornelius, expanding the church beyond its Jewish origins.

Key Passages

Called by Jesus

Matthew 4:18-20

Jesus calls ordinary fishermen to become 'fishers of men' - transforming their everyday skills into kingdom purpose and demonstrating that God builds His church through common people.

A18nd 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.

19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

Read full chapter: Matthew 4 โ†’

Confession of Christ

Matthew 16:13-20

Peter's declaration 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God' is the foundational confession of the church - revealed not by human reasoning but by the Father in heaven.

W13hen Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 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. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

Read full chapter: Matthew 16 โ†’

Peter's Denial

Matthew 26:69-75

Peter's three denials of Jesus on the night of His arrest reveal the gap between confident self-assessment and actual spiritual strength - a humbling lesson in human frailty.

N69ow Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.

70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. 71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. 72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. 73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. 74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. 75 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.

Read full chapter: Matthew 26 โ†’

Sermon at Pentecost

Acts 2:14-41

The same Peter who denied Christ now boldly proclaims Him before thousands - demonstrating the transforming power of the Holy Spirit and launching the church's mission to the world.

B14ut Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. 16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: 19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: 21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. 22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: 23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. 25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: 26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: 27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. 29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. 30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; 31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. 32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. 34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool. 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call. 40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Read full chapter: Acts 2 โ†’