In brief
Peter, first called Simon, is a Galilean fisherman whom Jesus calls to become a fisher of men. He is the first to confess Jesus as the Christ, yet he denies him three times on the night of his arrest. Restored by Jesus after the resurrection, he preaches at Pentecost and opens the gospel to non-Jews at Cornelius' house. He is one of the twelve apostles.
What does the name Peter mean?
Simon is a Hebrew name generally linked to "he has heard." Jesus gives him the name Peter, Cephas in Aramaic, which means rock; in Matthew 16:18, he uses it while speaking of building his Church.
The story of Peter
The Confession at Caesarea
Matthew 16:13-20Jesus asks the disciples who they say he is. Simon Peter answers: the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus declares him blessed, for flesh and blood did not reveal this to him, but the Father. He announces that he will build his Church.
The Denial
Luke 22:54-62After Jesus is arrested, Peter follows at a distance into the high priest's courtyard. Questioned, he denies three times that he knows him. At the third denial, the rooster crows, and Jesus turns and looks at Peter. He remembers the Lord's word and weeps bitterly.
Restoration by the Lake
John 21:15-19After the resurrection, Jesus meets Peter by the Sea of Tiberias. Three times he asks whether Peter loves him, as if answering the three denials. With each answer he entrusts his sheep to him. He ends with the call that first launched him: follow me.
The Pentecost Sermon
Acts 2:14-41Filled with the Spirit, Peter stands before the crowd in Jerusalem and proclaims that Jesus, crucified, is risen and made Lord and Christ. The listeners are cut to the heart and ask what to do. He calls them to repent and be baptized, and about three thousand join the Church.
The Gospel Opened to the Nations
Acts 10:34-48Sent to Cornelius, a Roman officer, Peter declares that God shows no favoritism. He proclaims Jesus, and the Holy Spirit falls on the non-Jewish listeners while he is still speaking. Peter then orders that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
What Peter teaches us
- Confessing Jesus as the Christ is the rock on which the Church's faith rests.
- A failure, even a denial, does not have the last word when Jesus restores.
- Love for the Lord is proved by caring for his sheep.
- God shows no favoritism: the gospel is for all nations.
Key verses
Simon Peter answers Jesus: you are the Christ, the Son of the living God. It is the great confession of faith of the gospels.
For the third time, Jesus asks Peter whether he loves him, and Peter rests on the knowledge the Lord has of his heart.
Peter calls the crowd to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, with the promise of forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Sermons about Peter
- Peter Restored: Grace Breaks the Silence (John 21)A sermon on John 21: the grace of Jesus breaks the silence that follows Peter's denial.
- Peter: The Hero at Heart Who Learned to Get Back UpA sermon on Peter's journey, as he learned to get back up after his falls.
- Follow Me and I Will Make You: The Calling of PeterA sermon on Jesus calling Peter: Follow me, and I will make you a fisher of men.
Frequently asked questions
Why did Jesus choose Peter?
Peter was a fisherman with no particular religious training. Jesus calls him by the Sea of Galilee, promising to make him a fisher of men. The Bible shows a choice of grace, despite his flaws and his denial.
What does the name Peter mean?
Peter comes from a Greek word meaning stone or rock. Jesus also calls him Cephas, the equivalent Aramaic word. In John 1:42, he announces this new name to him, and in Matthew 16:18, he connects it to the Church he will build.
Where can I find the story of Peter in the Bible?
It is found in the four gospels, then in Acts, mostly in chapters 1 to 12. He is also the author of two New Testament letters, 1 Peter and 2 Peter, which complete his portrait.