Peter was quite a guy, and his impact on the Christian faith has been passed down through the corridors of time. The Living Translation gives a page to the life of Peter. I will use excerpts from this in recognition of a man who was after God's Heart...much like David...
" Simon Peter was the most prominent of the 12 apostles. After Jesus death, he became the primary spokesman for the early Christians in Jerusalem and was the apostle primarily responsible for evangelizing the Jews (Galatians 2:7-8).
The Hebrew name Simeon (English=Simon) was probably his original name. Cephas is the transliteration of an Aramaic name given him by Jesus, meaning "rock"--translated Petros (English=Peter).
Though Bethsaida was Peter's hometown(John 1:44), he later lived in Capernaum. He was a married man (1 Cor.9:5). At one point, when visiting Peter's home, Jesus healed Peter's mother-n-law (Matt.8:5, Mark 1:21,29-32, Luke 4:31,38-39).
Originally fishermen, Peter and his brother Andrew were among the first to be called by Jesus to be disciples, together with James and John, their fishing partners (Matt. 4:18-22, Mark 1:16-20, Like 5:1-11, John 1:35-51). They were ordinary, minimally educated working men (Acts 4:13).
Peter's name occurs first on every list of the 12 apostles (Matt. 10:2, Mark 3:16, Luke 6:14, and Acts 1:13). Together, with brothers James and John, Peter was part of the "inner circle" of disciples who were with Jesus on certain special occasions--the healing of Jairus's daughter (Mark 5:37, Luke 8:51), Jesus transfiguration (Matt. 17:1, Mark 9:2, Luke 9:28) and Jesus prayer in the garden (Matt. 26:37, Mark 14:33, Mark 13:33).
Bold and impulsive (Matt. 26:33, Mark 14:29, Luke 5:8 and 22:33, John 13:37 and 21:7), Peter was the first of the disciples to confess his belief in Jesus as the Messiah( Matt. 16:15-16, Mark 8:29, Luke 9:20). He also reproved Jesus when Jesus spoke of His coming death-- a notion that did not fit Peter's view of the Messiah--and was in turn rebuked by Jesus for it ( Matt. 16:22-23, Mark 8: 32-33). However, Jesus spoke of Peter as a key person he would use to build the church ( Matt. 16:18-19).
Peter, together with John, surreptitiously entered the courtyard of the high priest when Jesus was taken there for interrogation. But when challenged by people who recognized him (partly because of his Galilean accent), he vigorously denied all knowledge of Jesus (Matt. 26:69-75, Mark 14:66-72, Luke 22:54-62)--as Jesus had said he would, in spite of Peter's insistence that he would never do so (Matt: 26:33-35, Mark 14:29-31, Luke 22:31-34). Peter immediately felt deep remorse.
After the news of Jesus resurrection, Peter was one of the first to run to the tomb to see if it was true (John 20:3-6), and he appears to have been the first of the 12 to whom the risen Christ showed Himself ( Luke 24:34, 1 Cor. 15:5). Much of Jesus conversation recorded by John in his last chapter was with Peter, whom Jesus encouraged to "feed my sheep" (John 21:15-17).
Following the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13), Peter quickly emerged as the primary spokesman for the early Christian church. From that point on, as recorded in Acts 1-12, he played a crucial role in the spread of the gospel in Judea, boldly preaching to the crowds (Acts 2:14-41, 3:12-26, 5:21,42), healing people (Acts 3:1-11, 5:12-16, 9:32-43), and--even under arrest--speaking fearlessly to the authorities (Acts 4:1-20, 5:26-32). Twice he miraculously escaped from prison ( Acts 5:18-25, 12:6-11). He also assumed leadership in the administrative affairs of the quickly growing community of disciples (Acts 5:3-11).
Peter was the first to bring the Good News to Gentiles (Acts 10:1-48). Later, he played a key role in the Jerusalem council concerning Gentile converts, arguing that Gentiles should not be compelled to observe the law of Moses but should be accepted on the basis of their faith in Christ alone (Acts 15:7-10). Later, however, he was rebuked by Paul for his inconsistency on this point when he visited Antioch (Galatians 2:11-16).
Other than his taking his wife with him on at least some of his mission trips ( 1 Cor. 9:5), few details are known about Peter's later life and missionary work. Widespread early tradition says Peter was crucified--like his Lord, just as Jesus had predicted ( John 21:18-19)-- in Rome during Nero's persecution of Christians in AD 64-65. The reliability of the tradition that he was crucified upside-down is less certain.
Peter was likely the source of material recorded by Mark in his gospel, which Mark learned when he was assisting Peter in his evangelistic work in Italy near the end of his life. Peter is also traditionally understood to be the author of 1 Peter (written in Rome--"Babylon", 1 Peter 5:13) and 2nd Peter.
In the New Testament, Peter stands as a reassuring example of Christ's forgiving grace for those who know they have failed Him-- and of the way Christ can graciously restore and use such people for His glory, in spite of their failings." The New Living Translation Study Bible, page 1609.
" Simon Peter was the most prominent of the 12 apostles. After Jesus death, he became the primary spokesman for the early Christians in Jerusalem and was the apostle primarily responsible for evangelizing the Jews (Galatians 2:7-8).
The Hebrew name Simeon (English=Simon) was probably his original name. Cephas is the transliteration of an Aramaic name given him by Jesus, meaning "rock"--translated Petros (English=Peter).
Though Bethsaida was Peter's hometown(John 1:44), he later lived in Capernaum. He was a married man (1 Cor.9:5). At one point, when visiting Peter's home, Jesus healed Peter's mother-n-law (Matt.8:5, Mark 1:21,29-32, Luke 4:31,38-39).
Originally fishermen, Peter and his brother Andrew were among the first to be called by Jesus to be disciples, together with James and John, their fishing partners (Matt. 4:18-22, Mark 1:16-20, Like 5:1-11, John 1:35-51). They were ordinary, minimally educated working men (Acts 4:13).
Peter's name occurs first on every list of the 12 apostles (Matt. 10:2, Mark 3:16, Luke 6:14, and Acts 1:13). Together, with brothers James and John, Peter was part of the "inner circle" of disciples who were with Jesus on certain special occasions--the healing of Jairus's daughter (Mark 5:37, Luke 8:51), Jesus transfiguration (Matt. 17:1, Mark 9:2, Luke 9:28) and Jesus prayer in the garden (Matt. 26:37, Mark 14:33, Mark 13:33).
Bold and impulsive (Matt. 26:33, Mark 14:29, Luke 5:8 and 22:33, John 13:37 and 21:7), Peter was the first of the disciples to confess his belief in Jesus as the Messiah( Matt. 16:15-16, Mark 8:29, Luke 9:20). He also reproved Jesus when Jesus spoke of His coming death-- a notion that did not fit Peter's view of the Messiah--and was in turn rebuked by Jesus for it ( Matt. 16:22-23, Mark 8: 32-33). However, Jesus spoke of Peter as a key person he would use to build the church ( Matt. 16:18-19).
Peter, together with John, surreptitiously entered the courtyard of the high priest when Jesus was taken there for interrogation. But when challenged by people who recognized him (partly because of his Galilean accent), he vigorously denied all knowledge of Jesus (Matt. 26:69-75, Mark 14:66-72, Luke 22:54-62)--as Jesus had said he would, in spite of Peter's insistence that he would never do so (Matt: 26:33-35, Mark 14:29-31, Luke 22:31-34). Peter immediately felt deep remorse.
After the news of Jesus resurrection, Peter was one of the first to run to the tomb to see if it was true (John 20:3-6), and he appears to have been the first of the 12 to whom the risen Christ showed Himself ( Luke 24:34, 1 Cor. 15:5). Much of Jesus conversation recorded by John in his last chapter was with Peter, whom Jesus encouraged to "feed my sheep" (John 21:15-17).
Following the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13), Peter quickly emerged as the primary spokesman for the early Christian church. From that point on, as recorded in Acts 1-12, he played a crucial role in the spread of the gospel in Judea, boldly preaching to the crowds (Acts 2:14-41, 3:12-26, 5:21,42), healing people (Acts 3:1-11, 5:12-16, 9:32-43), and--even under arrest--speaking fearlessly to the authorities (Acts 4:1-20, 5:26-32). Twice he miraculously escaped from prison ( Acts 5:18-25, 12:6-11). He also assumed leadership in the administrative affairs of the quickly growing community of disciples (Acts 5:3-11).
Peter was the first to bring the Good News to Gentiles (Acts 10:1-48). Later, he played a key role in the Jerusalem council concerning Gentile converts, arguing that Gentiles should not be compelled to observe the law of Moses but should be accepted on the basis of their faith in Christ alone (Acts 15:7-10). Later, however, he was rebuked by Paul for his inconsistency on this point when he visited Antioch (Galatians 2:11-16).
Other than his taking his wife with him on at least some of his mission trips ( 1 Cor. 9:5), few details are known about Peter's later life and missionary work. Widespread early tradition says Peter was crucified--like his Lord, just as Jesus had predicted ( John 21:18-19)-- in Rome during Nero's persecution of Christians in AD 64-65. The reliability of the tradition that he was crucified upside-down is less certain.
Peter was likely the source of material recorded by Mark in his gospel, which Mark learned when he was assisting Peter in his evangelistic work in Italy near the end of his life. Peter is also traditionally understood to be the author of 1 Peter (written in Rome--"Babylon", 1 Peter 5:13) and 2nd Peter.
In the New Testament, Peter stands as a reassuring example of Christ's forgiving grace for those who know they have failed Him-- and of the way Christ can graciously restore and use such people for His glory, in spite of their failings." The New Living Translation Study Bible, page 1609.
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