Claims to fame: Peter goes by three names: Simon, Cephas, Peter. He walks on water briefly before starting to go under — and talks as much as all the other apostles put together.
Serves as the primary source for Mark’s gospel. Writes two remarkable epistles: 1 and 2 Peter. He’s crucified upside down by Nero in Rome.
Worst betrayals: Peter denies Jesus Christ three times in one night. He acts hypocritically while in Antioch.
Bible Verses about Peter
The first half of Peter’s story is told in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. If you want to see Peter in action afterward, take half an hour to read Acts 1-12. Or take three minutes to read one of those exciting chapters.
You’ll see that the impulsive Peter in the four gospels becomes the Holy Spirit-emboldened apostle of Acts 1-12 and, later, 1 and 2 Peter.
That isn’t everything, though, about Peter. In 1 Corinthians, Paul briefly mentions “Cephas” four times in 1:12, 3:22, 9:5, and 15:5.
In Galatians, Paul briefly mentions Cephas in 1:18 and 2:9 and his momentary lapse into hypocrisy in 2:11-14. In Acts 15:7-14, Galatians 2:7-8, and 2 Peter 3:15-16, it’s clear the two apostles highly esteem each other and their respective ministries.
Peter’s Family
We know his father is Jonah (John), who had named his first son Simon and his second Andrew. We know Simon is married and his mother-in-law sometimes lives with them.
That said, Simon’s life story really doesn’t start in earnest until he meets Jesus, who renames him Cephas, which translated is Peter (John 1:42).
The New Testament uses Peter 178 times, Simon Peter 29 times, Simon (speaking of Peter) 17 times, Cephas nine times, and Simeon (again speaking of Peter) twice in Acts 15:14 and 2 Peter 1:1.
Peter in the Gospel of Matthew
Peter first shows up in Matthew 4:18-20, when Jesus calls him to be one of His first disciples. Jesus visits Peter’s home and heals his mother-in-law in Matthew 8:14-15. Peter officially becomes one of the 12 apostles in Matthew 10:1-2.
Peter finally starts talking in Matthew 14:28-30, only to yell when he begins drowning. A page later, Peter asks Jesus to explain what He’s just said (Matthew 15:15).
A chapter later, Peter makes his confession, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).
Only half a dozen verses later Peter rebukes Jesus, who sternly rebukes Peter (Matthew 16:22-23).
Peter enters the inner circle with James and John, only to propose a half-baked idea on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-4).
Later in that chapter, Jesus quizzes Peter, who gives one-or two-word answers, Matthew 17:24-27. A page later, Peter asks Jesus a question about forgiving others (Matthew 18:21).
Peter goes silent until Matthew 26:33-35 when he not-so-humbly claims he would never fall away or deny Jesus Christ. He goes silent again in Matthew 26:36-46, sleeping while Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane. Then, just as Jesus predicted, Peter denies Him not once but three times (Matthew 26:69-75).
Most of this is covered again in Mark and Luke’s gospels.
Peter in the Gospel of Mark
Mark’s gospel is the shortest. Still, he mentions Peter’s name as the leader of the early disciples in Mark 1:36, of the inner circle of three disciples in Mark 5:37, of the inner circle of four disciples in Mark 13:3, and of the 12 apostles in Mark 14:37 and Mark 16:7.
In addition, Mark quotes a couple of Peter’s one-liners to Jesus in Mark 10:28 (“left all”) and Mark 11:21 (fig tree).
Peter in the Gospel of Luke
Luke’s gospel is the longest. He alone records the dramatic story of Jesus providing a miraculous catch of fish after Peter had caught nothing all night (Luke 5:1-11). This is the catalyst for Peter’s conversion and decision to leave all to follow Jesus Christ.
Luke quotes a few of Peter’s one-liners to Jesus in Luke 8:45, Luke 12:41, and Luke 18:28. Luke notes that Jesus asks Peter and John to make preparations for the Last Supper (Luke 22:8).
Near the end of that supper, Luke adds Jesus’ words to Peter about returning to Him (Luke 22:31-32). As well, Luke says Jesus looked straight at Peter right after his third denial, Luke 22:61.
In addition, Luke’s gospel has a verse about Peter going to the empty tomb (Luke 24:12) (discussed in more detail in John 20:2-10). Finally, Luke adds Jesus’ post-resurrection appearance to Peter (Luke 24:3-4, compare 1 Corinthians 15:5).
Peter in The Gospel of John
Andrew introduces his brother, Peter, to Jesus, in John 1:40-42.
After Jesus’ “hardest” sermon, many leave. Jesus turns to the 12 to ask if they want to leave as well. Peter replies, ““Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:68-69).
When Jesus washes His disciples’ feet, Peter objects and the Lord rebukes him (John 13:6-10). That same evening, Peter motions for John to ask Jesus a question (John 13:21-24). A few minutes later, Peter asks Jesus two more questions (John 13:36-38).
John identifies Peter as the disciple in the Garden of Gethsemane who cut off a man’s ear (John 18:10-11).
John adds a bonus chapter about fishing with Peter, having breakfast with Peter and Jesus, and Jesus talking about their differing futures (John 21:1-23).
All Four Gospels
You can read complementary accounts of Peter’s three denials in Matthew 26:20-75, Mark 14:66-72, Luke 22:54-62, and John 18:15-27. As Peter discovered, we can rest assured that — no matter how often we let Him down — the Lord won’t give up on us.
Lesson's From Peter's Life and Story in the Bible
From the time we were kids, we’ve been told: Three strikes and you’re out.
In life, we get only so many opportunities to blow it. In many competitive situations, it is no wonder our first reaction is to tense up.
It seems as if everyone struggles with the fear of failure, at least occasionally. Every time we hear about another friend or colleague losing her job, we automatically wonder, “Will I be next?”
Thankfully, God’s kingdom operates on an entirely different basis. We can never let God down one too many times. If we love Him and own up to our sins, confessing them and asking for His forgiveness, God keeps right on forgiving us and putting us back in the game.
If anyone has ever understood the marvel of God’s goodness to keep giving us second and third chances, it was Peter.
In the course of a single evening, Peter denies Jesus Christ three times: First to a maid, then to her and a couple of her coworkers, and then to an entire group of bystanders.
Yet after His resurrection, Jesus made a point of repeatedly reassuring Peter that he still had great things in store for this very human and less than perfect disciple.
Later in life, Peter looks back on this experience and reminds his fellow Christians that Jesus “personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you have been healed. Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls” (1 Peter 2:24-25, NLT).
As Peter discovered, it’s not too late for you and me to return to Jesus Christ today, confess our sins, ask for His forgiveness, and receive second chances.
For further reading:
Why Did Peter Deny Jesus after Everything?
What Is the Significance of Jesus Calming the Storm?
How Did Peter Walk on Water? Why Did He Sink?
Why Didn’t the Disciples Recognize Jesus after His Resurrection?
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/artisteer
