Peter, Part 1 — The Stone
Introduction: As part of the process of preparing a study on 1 Peter chapter 1, I began to consider some of the aspects of the author’s life for the purpose of relating the man to the content of his first letter to the church. Scripture contains information about Peter, words spoken to him, and some of his own words, in the gospels and in the book of Acts. There is sufficient material, especially with related parallel and supporting scripture, to make it difficult to be brief and still capture a good essence of the man. I will leave it to the reader to seek other biographies of, or commentaries about, Peter, or to personally expand the study of Peter if so desired. This then will be a condensed character sketch, before examining chapter one of Peter’s first letter to the church. Since the text of the four gospels provides information in different styles, the verses collected for this study will not necessarily be in chronological order, and it should further be noted that the details about Peter only has true significance as they relate to Christ. Part 1 of the study of Peter will deal with the gospel accounts for Peter’s calling by the Lord.
All Bible text is taken from the 1769 KJV Bible.
A — Peter Is the Surname Given by Jesus
Matthew 10:2 “Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother.”
Mark 3:16 “And Simon he surnamed Peter.”
Luke 6:14 “Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew.”
John 1:40–42 “One of the two which heard John [speak], and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. 42 And 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.”
Comments: All four gospels give us the information that Simon the son of Jona (or Simon BarJona) was called Peter, and the gospel of John provides us the Aramaic equivalent of Peter when Jesus gave him his surname. The KJV New Testament is translated from Greek to English, but Cephas is an example of an Aramaic word that is not translated to either Greek or English, but is transliterated. We are told directly in verse 42 that Cephas means stone. And the Greek word used in that verse which is translated as stone is petros. The Aramaic name Cephas is used only five other times in the New Testament, four times in 1 Corinthians, and once in Galatians, all of which refer to Peter. In a few cases Simon is used alone when speaking of Peter, and the context verifies him as Simon Peter. There are other Simons in the New Testament, but there is only one Peter and only one Cephas, and he is one in the same. Peter is directly mentioned in more passages in the gospels than any of the other twelve apostles.
B — Peter Was a Common Man
Luke 5:8–11 “When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. 9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: 10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. 11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.”
Matthew 8:14 “And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever.”
John 6:67–69 “Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Comments: Peter was a fisherman and he was in partnership with James and John in that business. He was married as we find from the reference in Matthew chapter 8. Peter apparently had been taught about Jewish beliefs because it was very significant to him when his brother Andrew came to say they had found the Messiah. He personally met Jesus through Andrew and was given the name Peter. Later, when the astonishing catch of fish was directed by Jesus, Peter’s heartfelt reaction was to kneel before Jesus and humble himself as a sinful man. But when Jesus bid him to follow, he left everything as the text tells us, and there is no further explanation of what he could expect in so doing. This early stage of Peter’s story provides the first indication that Peter had a Spirit-tender heart open with abandon to obey the voice of Jesus. And the passage above from John chapter six speaks of his confident faith in Jesus as the Messiah, and his intent to display unswerving loyalty.
Peter often spoke or acted in immediate fashion from that faith and loyalty. He was also inclined to quickly be misled by his own reasoning in several different situations, because he was just as confused about the sacrificial role of Messiah as all others seemed to be. The twelve apostles were all chosen out of the ranks of the common man, and none of them had status as being religious leaders or those with superior knowledge of scripture.
C — Peter Witnessed the Power and Glory of Jesus and Continued His Questions
Matthew 14:28–32 “And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? 32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.”
Matthew 16:16–23 “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. … 21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”
Comments: Peter was with Jesus for over three years, and he saw many miracles. Peter even personally experienced the miracle of walking upon water to meet Jesus who was walking on the water during a storm, and then had to be rescued by Jesus as he began to sink. When Peter answered Jesus by identifying him as the Christ, Jesus told him (and us through the record of scripture) that Peter did not come to that conclusion by human (flesh and blood) means. Very soon after that in the narrative Jesus speaks of the coming suffering and death of the Christ. Peter demonstrates the failure of his own understanding of the full extent of the appearing of Messiah by upbraiding Jesus for making such a statement, and underscores the fact that his earlier statement about Jesus being the Messiah was not his own conclusion!
Peter, James, and John were taken alone by Jesus to witness his transfiguration, and the appearance of Moses and Elijah talking with him, and only remarks from Peter are recorded in that event. Peter was also present at times when Jesus baffled his opponents with his statements and questions, and those chief priests and scribes represented the community of respected and well educated religious leaders. So, Peter as a layman was following a man who was hotly rejected by most of the religious elite.
D — The Last Supper and the Betrayal of Jesus
Luke 22:8 “And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.”
John 13:8–9 “Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.”
Luke 22:31–34 “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. 33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. 34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.”
Comments: Peter continued to be so often in the forefront of recorded events even as the Christ drew closer to the cross. When it was time for the last supper, Peter and John were the ones sent by Jesus to find the upper room already prepared. When Jesus humbled himself to wash the disciples’ feet Peter first refused out of respect for Jesus, but then wanted to be completely washed, if he needed washing to be assured of having a part with Jesus. When Jesus told him that he would be a target of the devil and would deny Jesus, Peter responded that he would go to prison or even death rather than abandon him. How careful we all should be, if we claim to know what we will do in future circumstances if we are depending on our own resolve to make it happen.
E — Prayer in the Garden and Jesus Led Away
Mark 14:33–34 “And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; 34 And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.”
Mark 14:37 “And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour?”
John 18:10–11 “Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. 11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?”
Mark 14:72 “And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.”
Comments: Peter again was part of a select three, this time taken by Jesus for the intense prayer in the garden, but neither Peter nor the other two could stay awake as they waited for Jesus. Perhaps it was even the thought that he might deny the Lord that caused Peter to attack with his sword in the garden when the crowd came to take Jesus, but Jesus told Peter to put away the sword because it was necessary for the Messiah to complete his course. Peter did follow the captors and Jesus while other disciples fled. And when he realized at the rooster’s crowing that he had denied Jesus three times, he wept bitterly.
F — Peter Needs More Than One Visit from the Resurrected Christ
Luke 24:12 “Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.”
John 21:3–6 “Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. 4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. 6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find.”
John 21:15–17 “So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”
Comments: An empty tomb brings Mary running to report to the disciples, and in turn Peter and John run to the tomb to find it empty, but there is no apparent conclusion by them that the promised resurrection has occurred. How interesting that John’s account takes us back to the business of fishing, because that is what Peter had been doing when he first left everything to follow Jesus. Peter had already seen the resurrected Christ twice in the upper room, before Jesus appeared again and the fishermen took an astonishing catch at the direction of the man on the shore. After they realized the man was Jesus, he told Simon Peter that he was to feed and take care of the sheep, and this moved Peter firmly from fisherman to a fisher of men. The significant events in Peter’s life between the first astonishing catch of fish and the last astonishing catch of fish, were directed by the Lord not Peter, and for the glory of God not for the glory of Peter.
Reflections in Prayer
I Thank you Lord for the way you chose men from the ranks of the common man and allowed your glory to be even brighter because the changes in their lives were startling. Peter has been for us such an active example in his unbridled desire to follow you and to protect your name. Please remind me that you need no help from mere man, and dispel my misunderstandings when it seems that your plan for me is not on course. What a marvelous thing to realize that you had prayed for Peter to keep him from evil, and your word assures me that you are at the Father’s right hand continuing to intercede for me and all others who call upon your name.
I have not witnessed the miracles firsthand as did the apostles, neither have I seen and talked with you in the flesh as they did both before and after the resurrection. Thank you for the love you showed by telling me by way of telling Thomas that those who believe having not seen you are blessed, because I do believe the miracles you performed and I do believe in your resurrection. I also acknowledge that you alone have given me this faith to believe: the truth of your salvation has not been revealed to me by my own devices. O Lord I depend on your patience and long suffering because I know I will not always demonstrate in words or actions that you are in complete control, so I ask you to strengthen me by your Spirit in those times.
So many fell away from you as you approached the cross, and your special work in the eleven who were restored after the resurrection is a marvelous display of your mercy and grace. And I know how many times you have drawn me back from my wandering. I can find no more fitting praise than to pray to you from the Psalms, so these I offer as my own. Psalms 73:28 “But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.” Psalms 86:12 “I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.” Psalms 94:22 “But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.” Psalms 146:2 “While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.” I offer this to you my Lord and my God, only because I know from the New Testament that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Published 27 July 2005