Who was Peter?

Who was Peter in the New Testament?

• Peter (aka Simon Peter, Simon, Cephas) was one of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ and the author of 2 letter in the New Testament.
• Cephas and Peter both mean “rock.”
• Peter is the son of Jonah/John (Matthew 16:17; John 1:42).
• Peter and his brother Andrew (also one of the 12) were fisherman from Bethsaida (Mark 1:16; Luke 5:2-3; John 21:3). They were partners with James and John, the sons of Zebedee (also part of the 12) (Luke 5:10).
• Peter was married (Mark 1:29-31; 1 Corinthians 9:5) and had a residence in Capernaum (Mark 1:21; Mark 1:29), which became a base for Jesus during his ministry there.
• Peter and Andrew first met Jesus in the Jordan Valley when they were probably disciples of John the Baptist first (John 1:28-29; John 1:35; John 1:40-41).
• At a later meeting in Galilee, Peter became one of the 12 (Matthew 4:18-22).
• Peter’s name always occurs first in the list of the 12 apostles. He appears to be the leader of the 12 and frequently acts as their spokesman.
• Peter, James and John formed an inner circle of disciples who were particularly close to Jesus (Mark 5:37; Mark 9:2; Mark 14:33). They alone witnessed the raising of Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:27), Jesus’ transfiguration (Mark 9:2), his agony in Gethsemane (Mark 14:32-33), and along with Andrew, heard Jesus speak of the signs of the coming destruction of Jerusalem (Mark 13:3).
• Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Christ forms the turning point in the 3 synoptic gospels (Matthew 6:16; Mark 8:29; Luke 9:20).
• Jesus accurately predicted Peter would deny knowing him (John 18:12-17; Matthew 26:69-75; Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:54-62). Yet Jesus forgave him (John 21).
• While Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles and James the leader of the Jerusalem church, Peter appears to have been the bridge between the two groups.
• John Mark was his companion and wrote his gospel based on Peter’s account.
• According to tradition, Peter was martyred in Rome in the 60s along with his wife.

Peter in Scripture

Mat 4:18; Mat 8:14; Mat 10:2; Mat 14:28; Mat 14:29; Mat 15:15; Mat 16:16; Mat 16:18; Mat 16:22; Mat 16:23; Mat 17:1; Mat 17:4; Mat 17:24; Mat 18:21; Mat 19:27; Mat 26:33; Mat 26:35; Mat 26:37; Mat 26:40; Mat 26:58; Mat 26:69; Mat 26:73; Mat 26:75; Mar 3:16; Mar 5:37; Mar 8:29; Mar 8:32; Mar 8:33; Mar 9:2; Mar 9:5; Mar 10:28; Mar 11:21; Mar 13:3; Mar 14:29; Mar 14:33; Mar 14:37; Mar 14:54; Mar 14:66; Mar 14:67; Mar 14:70; Mar 14:72; Mar 16:7; Luk 5:8; Luk 6:14; Luk 8:45; Luk 8:51; Luk 9:20; Luk 9:28; Luk 9:32; Luk 9:33; Luk 12:41; Luk 18:28; Luk 22:8; Luk 22:33; Luk 22:34; Luk 22:54; Luk 22:55; Luk 22:58; Luk 22:60; Luk 22:61; Luk 24:12; Joh 1:40; Joh 1:42; Joh 1:44; Joh 6:8; Joh 6:68; Joh 13:6; Joh 13:8; Joh 13:9; Joh 13:24; Joh 13:36; Joh 13:37; Joh 18:10; Joh 18:11; Joh 18:15; Joh 18:16; Joh 18:17; Joh 18:18; Joh 18:25; Joh 18:26; Joh 18:27; Joh 20:2; Joh 20:3; Joh 20:4; Joh 20:6; Joh 21:2; Joh 21:3; Joh 21:7; Joh 21:11; Joh 21:15; Joh 21:17; Joh 21:20; Joh 21:21; Act 1:13; Act 1:15; Act 2:14; Act 2:37; Act 2:38; Act 3:1; Act 3:3; Act 3:4; Act 3:6; Act 3:11; Act 3:12; Act 4:8; Act 4:13; Act 4:19; Act 5:3; Act 5:8; Act 5:9; Act 5:15; Act 5:29; Act 8:14; Act 8:20; Act 9:32; Act 9:34; Act 9:38; Act 9:39; Act 9:40; Act 10:5; Act 10:9; Act 10:13; Act 10:14; Act 10:17; Act 10:18; Act 10:19; Act 10:21; Act 10:25; Act 10:26; Act 10:32; Act 10:34; Act 10:44; Act 10:45; Act 10:46; Act 11:2; Act 11:4; Act 11:7; Act 11:13; Act 12:3; Act 12:5; Act 12:6; Act 12:7; Act 12:11; Act 12:14; Act 12:16; Act 12:18; Act 15:7; Gal 2:7; Gal 2:8; 1Pe 1:1; 2Pe 1:1.

Dictionaries & Encyclopedias

Peter (aka Simon Peter, Simon, Cephas)

• American Tract Society Dictionary: Peter
• Bridgeway Bible Dictionary: Peter
• Easton’s Bible Dictionary: Peter
• Fausset Bible Dictionary: Peter
• Holman Bible Dictionary: Peter
• Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible: Peter
• Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature: Peter
• Morrish Bible Dictionary: Peter
• International Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Peter, Simon
• McClintock and Strong: Peter
• The Nuttall Encyclopedia: Peter, the Apostle
• The Jewish Encyclopedia:
• 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica: Peter
• Peter means “rock or stone” – Hitchcock’s Bible Names
• Simon means ” that hears; that obeys” – Hitchcock’s Bible Names
• Cephas means a rock or stone – Hitchcock’s Bible Names
• Peter’s Wife (Zondervan)
• Eusebius: Persecution under Nero
• Whyte’s Bible Characters Peter

More: 1 Peter Bible Study Resources

More: 2 Peter Bible Study Resources

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