Peter: The Fisherman from Galilee

Peter was a fisherman from Galilee whose original name was Simon. Andrew was his brother, and they came from Bethsaida. John records Jesus addressing him as Simon, son of Jonah. At his house in Capernaum, Jesus healed his mother-in-law of a fever.

Andrew met Jesus and then found Simon, telling him they had found the Messiah, or Christ. He brought Simon to Jesus, who said that he would be called Cephas. John explains that this name is translated as Peter.

After Simon and his partners had worked through the night without a catch, Jesus taught a crowd from Simon’s boat. When he finished, he told Simon to put out into deep water and lower the nets. Simon spoke of their fruitless night but did as Jesus said. They caught so many fish that their partners in another boat had to help. Simon fell before Jesus, calling himself a sinful man. Jesus told him that he would now catch people, and they left everything to follow him.

When Jesus came toward the disciples on the water, Peter asked to come to him on the water too. Jesus called him, and Peter stepped out and walked toward him. Seeing the wind, he became afraid and began to sink. He cried out for help, and Jesus reached out to take hold of him. Jesus asked why he had doubted.

Near Caesarea Philippi, Peter declared that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus spoke of building his church on this rock and giving Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Yet when Jesus began to speak of suffering, death, and resurrection, Peter objected. Jesus rebuked him for thinking of human concerns rather than God’s.

Peter went up a high mountain with James and John and saw Jesus’ appearance change. He offered to make shelters for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. The voice from the cloud told them to listen to Jesus. Later, at the last meal, Jesus said that the disciples would abandon him. Peter insisted that even if everyone else left, he would not.

When Jesus was arrested, Peter drew his sword and cut off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest’s servant. Jesus told him to put the sword away, asking whether he should not drink the cup given him by the Father. Peter followed the arrested Jesus at a distance into the high priest’s courtyard.

People said Peter had been with Jesus, but he denied it three times. A rooster crowed, and he remembered Jesus’ warning that he would deny him three times before it crowed. Peter went outside and wept bitterly.

After the resurrection, Peter and other disciples spent a night fishing without a catch. Jesus stood on the shore and told them to cast the net on the boat’s right side. They caught many fish. When the disciple Jesus loved told Peter it was the Lord, Peter put on his coat and jumped into the water. After breakfast Jesus asked him three times whether he loved him. Peter was grieved at the third question but answered that Jesus knew his love. Each time Jesus entrusted him with feeding and tending his sheep.

After Jesus ascended, Peter remained among the disciples in Jerusalem. At Pentecost he spoke openly of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Later, he and John met a man who had never been able to walk at the temple gate. Peter told him to walk in Jesus Christ’s name and took his hand to raise him. The man walked. Peter and John were arrested and questioned, but Peter said the man had been healed in Jesus’ name.

In Jerusalem, sick people were healed through the apostles. The high priest and his supporters imprisoned them, but an angel opened the doors at night. They returned to teach in the temple. Before the council of Jewish leaders, Peter and the others said they must obey God rather than people. After being beaten and released, they continued teaching about Jesus in the temple and in homes.

Peter and John went to Samaria and prayed for new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. In Lydda, Peter met Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years. He said that Jesus Christ healed him, and Aeneas rose. In Joppa, Peter prayed beside Tabitha’s body and told her to get up. She opened her eyes and sat up. He gave her his hand, raised her, and called others in to see her alive.

While praying in Joppa, Peter saw a vision of something like a large sheet containing animals. Told to kill and eat, he answered that he had never eaten anything unholy or unclean. He heard that he must not call unholy what God had cleansed. Messengers from Cornelius, a military officer, soon arrived. Peter went to his house in Caesarea and preached about Jesus. When the Holy Spirit came upon Gentiles, people who were not Jews, he directed that they be baptized.

Back in Jerusalem, Peter was criticized for entering a Gentile home and eating there. He described his vision, Cornelius’s invitation, and the Holy Spirit’s arrival. If God had given them the same gift, how could Peter stand in the way? His listeners gave glory to God, saying that God had also granted Gentiles repentance leading to life.

Herod had James, John’s brother, killed and then arrested Peter. He intended to bring Peter before the people after Passover. While the church prayed, Peter slept between two soldiers, bound in chains. An angel woke him and led him out. Peter went to the house of Mary, the mother of John called Mark. Rhoda, a servant girl, recognized his voice and was so glad that she ran inside without opening the gate. Peter told the people how the Lord had brought him out, then left for another place.

Later, the believers in Jerusalem discussed whether Gentiles should be required to receive circumcision and keep the law of Moses. Peter said that God had given them the Holy Spirit and cleansed their hearts by faith. Jews and Gentiles alike were saved through Jesus’ grace.

In Galatians, Paul also recounts Peter eating with Gentiles in Antioch, then withdrawing when certain people arrived. Paul says Peter feared those who were circumcised. He challenged Peter before the others because this conduct did not follow the truth of the gospel.

John records Jesus speaking about the death by which Peter would glorify God. Scripture does not narrate the date and place of his actual death. When Peter asked about another disciple’s future, Jesus returned to the instruction he had given him: Peter himself was to follow him.