PERSON · APOSTLE
Peter
Peter was renamed by Jesus from Simon to Cephas (Aramaic) or Peter (Greek), meaning 'rock,' at their first meeting (John 1:42) and again in the context of his confession of Jesus as the Christ (Matthew 16:17–19). He was among the innermost group of three disciples present at events including the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1–2) and Gethsemane (Matthew 26:37), and he was commissioned by the risen Jesus to feed and tend Jesus's sheep (John 21:15–17).
Matthew 4:18–20
- Ministry
- First century AD, ministry active from approximately 30 AD onward
The Story
He was a fisherman. That is where the story begins — not in a synagogue, not in a scholar's house, but on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, where a man named Simon was casting his net into the water with his brother Andrew. There was nothing in the record to suggest that this moment was anything other than an ordinary working morning. Then Jesus walked by, and nothing was ordinary again.
The call was brief and absolute. Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. Scripture says that Simon and Andrew straightway left their nets and followed him. No negotiation, no delay recorded, no question asked. Whatever Simon had understood in that instant, it was enough to leave the nets where they lay.
Before long, another encounter would put a new name on the man. When Andrew first brought his brother to Jesus, the Lord looked at him and spoke: Thou art Simon the son of Jona — thou shalt be called Cephas, which by interpretation is Peter, meaning a rock.
42And 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·KJV
It was a renaming, and in the ancient world a new name carried the weight of a new identity, a new calling, a new future being spoken into existence. Peter would spend the rest of his life growing — sometimes stumbling — into that name.
Life & Legacy
Death
TraditionJesus indicated that Peter would die in a manner in which his hands would be stretched out and another would lead him where he did not want to go, which the narrator of John's Gospel interprets as signifying the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God (John 21:18–19). Church tradition, reported by Eusebius, holds that Peter was crucified under Nero in Rome, and, according to Origen as cited by Eusebius, was crucified upside down at his own request.
Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 3.1; John 21:18–19
Legacy
ScripturePeter delivered the inaugural sermon of the early church on the day of Pentecost, resulting in approximately three thousand baptisms (Acts 2:14–41). He authored two canonical epistles addressed to dispersed believers (1 Peter 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1) and is portrayed throughout Acts as a primary leader and spokesman for the Jerusalem church (Acts 1–15).
Acts 2:14–41; 1 Peter 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1; Acts 1–15
Character
ScriptureScripture records Peter as bold and impulsive: he stepped out of the boat to walk on water toward Jesus (Matthew 14:28–29), declared Jesus to be the Christ (Matthew 16:16), yet also denied knowing Jesus three times on the night of Jesus's arrest (Matthew 26:69–75). He was publicly rebuked by Paul at Antioch for withdrawing from Gentile table fellowship out of fear of the circumcision party (Galatians 2:11–14).
Matthew 14:28–29; Matthew 16:16; Matthew 26:69–75; Galatians 2:11–14
Significance
ScripturePeter was renamed by Jesus from Simon to Cephas (Aramaic) or Peter (Greek), meaning 'rock,' at their first meeting (John 1:42) and again in the context of his confession of Jesus as the Christ (Matthew 16:17–19). He was among the innermost group of three disciples present at events including the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1–2) and Gethsemane (Matthew 26:37), and he was commissioned by the risen Jesus to feed and tend Jesus's sheep (John 21:15–17).
John 1:42; Matthew 16:17–19; Matthew 17:1–2; Matthew 26:37; John 21:15–17
DeathTradition
Jesus indicated that Peter would die in a manner in which his hands would be stretched out and another would lead him where he did not want to go, which the narrator of John's Gospel interprets as signifying the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God (John 21:18–19). Church tradition, reported by Eusebius, holds that Peter was crucified under Nero in Rome, and, according to Origen as cited by Eusebius, was crucified upside down at his own request.
Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History 3.1; John 21:18–19
LegacyScripture
Peter delivered the inaugural sermon of the early church on the day of Pentecost, resulting in approximately three thousand baptisms (Acts 2:14–41). He authored two canonical epistles addressed to dispersed believers (1 Peter 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1) and is portrayed throughout Acts as a primary leader and spokesman for the Jerusalem church (Acts 1–15).
Acts 2:14–41; 1 Peter 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1; Acts 1–15
CharacterScripture
Scripture records Peter as bold and impulsive: he stepped out of the boat to walk on water toward Jesus (Matthew 14:28–29), declared Jesus to be the Christ (Matthew 16:16), yet also denied knowing Jesus three times on the night of Jesus's arrest (Matthew 26:69–75). He was publicly rebuked by Paul at Antioch for withdrawing from Gentile table fellowship out of fear of the circumcision party (Galatians 2:11–14).
Matthew 14:28–29; Matthew 16:16; Matthew 26:69–75; Galatians 2:11–14
SignificanceScripture
Peter was renamed by Jesus from Simon to Cephas (Aramaic) or Peter (Greek), meaning 'rock,' at their first meeting (John 1:42) and again in the context of his confession of Jesus as the Christ (Matthew 16:17–19). He was among the innermost group of three disciples present at events including the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1–2) and Gethsemane (Matthew 26:37), and he was commissioned by the risen Jesus to feed and tend Jesus's sheep (John 21:15–17).
John 1:42; Matthew 16:17–19; Matthew 17:1–2; Matthew 26:37; John 21:15–17
Artist's impression