Peter (Simon) of the Twelve Disciples: Bio, Death, Legacy

Peter (Simon) is one of the most interesting New Testament characters. He had many good moments but also made some of the most troubling comments among the Twelve disciples. His reactions, and often over-reactions, were a function of his personality.

Simon, also known as Peter, was the brother of Andrew and both were fishermen in Bethsaida, practicing their trade by the Sea of Galilee when Jesus called them. It was not their first encounter with Jesus. Andrew was a follower of John the Baptist and encountered Jesus through his ministry (John 1:37-42). Andrew then told Simon that he met the Messiah (the Hebrew term for Christ or anointed one). When Andrew took his brother to Jesus, he gave him the nickname Cephas – an Aramaic word that means rock and is rendered as Peter in English.

Later, while Peter and Andrew were fishing, Jesus called them to follow him. The Matthew 4:18-20 and Mark 1:16-18 versions of the encounter do not provide the same detail that Luke records. According to Luke 5:1-11, a miracle preceded the calling of Peter and Andrew. The brothers were fishing all night, catching nothing. Jesus entered their boat and asked Peter to take the boat out a short distance from the shore.

After teaching from the boat, Jesus told Peter to cast his nets out again. The catch was so big that the nets were in danger of breaking and filled two boats to their limits. It was after this miraculous encounter that Peter decided to follow Jesus.

Character and Personality

Peter was a leader among the twelve disciples. On several occasions in the Gospels, he is the one who speaks up or reacts to situations. On some occasions, his comments are profound, like when he identified Jesus as the son of God (Matthew 16:13-20; Mark 8:27-30; Luke 9:18-20). On others, his reaction seems arrogant and inappropriate (Matthew 16:22-23; Mark 8:32-33; Matthew 17:4; Mark 9:5; Luke 9:33). He is also impulsive and at times over-reacts in the situation (Matthew 14:27-31; John 18:10).

When Jesus expressed concerns about Peter, he defended himself and claimed his loyalty to Jesus was beyond doubt, yet he denied knowing Jesus a couple of hours later. Confronted by his true self, he ran away and wept bitterly (Matthew 26:75; Mark 14:72; Luke 22:61-62). Peter became the servant of Jesus he wished to be only after the resurrection of Jesus and endured much suffering and eventually death for the sake of the gospel.

Peter had several significant encounters with Jesus. He was called aside several times along with James and John, the sons of Zebedee, to have experiences with Christ. One such occasion was the glorification of Christ on the mount of configuration.

On this profound occasion, Moses and Elijah appeared before them and Jesus was transfigured before their eyes after they ascended some way up a mountain. This event is recorded in all three synoptic gospels and they state that Peter suggested that they set up three tents, one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. This was not a wise utterance considering the gravity of what was occurring. Matthew goes on to say that clouds were gathering and those present heard God say: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”

Mark records that the clothes of the three glorified men became radiant and shone white. The disciples were terrified, and Peter did not know what to say, yet it seems like Peter felt an impulse to speak and could not help himself (Mark 9:6). Luke provides more detail, claiming that the three disciples woke up from a deep sleep when observing what was happening. After the utterance Peter made, Luke records that Peter did not know what he was saying, indicating that his comment was inappropriate considering the magnitude of what was happening.

On occasion, Peter follows a profoundly insightful comment with an act that confounds reason. Jesus asked his twelve disciples who the people perceived him to be. The disciples claimed that people saw Jesus as John the Baptist or a prophet. When Jesus asked them who they thought he was, Peter answered “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16).

Jesus acknowledged this phenomenal statement by proclaiming: “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:17-18). Peter, however, shortly after acts in a way that confounds reason in the light of what was just said.

Jesus shared with his twelve disciples that he would suffer and die. Peter rebuked Jesus for his claims, saying: “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” (Matthew 16:22). The reply Jesus gave must have been quite a shock to Peter. Jesus saw the hand of Satan in what Peter said and told Peter his mind was not on godly things.

Peter was prone to oscillating between claims of dedication and conduct that denied it or expressed it in ways that denied the character of Christ. Consider the following events that occurred in short succession.

Shortly after the Last Supper, Jesus told Peter that Satan was at work among the twelve disciples. Unfortunately, some of the details were lost in translation. The following rendition adds the details in parentheses.

Luke 22:31-34

“‘Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you (plural, indicating all the disciples), that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you (singular, specifying Peter) that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned (King James renders it “converted”) again, strengthen your brothers.’ Peter said to him, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.’ Jesus said, ‘I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.’”

In this encounter, Jesus expresses Peter as his main concern, implying Peter may have a weakness that needs to be corrected. In typical fashion, Peter claims his dedication would not fail even if imprisonment or death were the consequence. He considered himself above reproach. The reply Jesus gave must have been devastating to Peter because it did not align with his self-characterization.

Shortly afterward, the scene in the Garden of Gethsemane unfolds. Because of the conversation they had shortly before, Peter likely had a damaged ego and wanted to show his commitment to Jesus. When confronted with Roman soldiers about to arrest Jesus, Peter drew his sword and struck Malchus, the servant of the high priest. Such an act could have resulted in imprisonment or death. The reaction Jesus had to the violent act served as a further rebuke to Peter. Jesus told him to sheath his sword and healed Malchus’s ear (Matthew 26:51-52; Mark 14:47; Luke 22:50-51; John 18:11).

Peter denied knowing Jesus during his trial, which followed later that night. His denial may have been caused by the dissonance between his self-perception and his inappropriate actions. Whatever the motivation, the denial exacerbated the problem. The three synoptic gospels connect the conversation Peter had with Jesus to his reaction when he heard the rooster crow. Luke claimed that Peter and Jesus locked eyes for a moment amid the throng of the crowd, which triggered Peter’s response. He wept bitterly (Matthew 26:75; Mark 14:72; Luke 22:61-62).

After the resurrection of Jesus, the Bible records that Peter and John ran to the grave once the women announced that the body was no longer in the tomb. The Bible notes that John outran Peter and reached the grave first, a strange detail to add (John 20:1-5). Though John was younger than Peter, some read into this detail that Peter may have been anxious to face the resurrected Jesus, considering their last encounter.

Peter and Jesus had a significant restorative encounter. John 21:15-19 details how Jesus asked Peter three times whether he loves him. The threefold question may play on the three times Peter denied Jesus.

Jesus asked whether Peter loved him, using the Greek term agapao (love). When Peter answered, he responded using the Greek term phileo (affection, affinity). This likely indicates that he was afraid of over-committing as he did the night of Jesus’s arrest. Jesus asked Peter again to follow him. John 21:19 indicates that the author was aware of how Peter glorified God in the way he died years later.

After the ascension of Jesus, Peter took up the role of leader among the apostles again. He was the main preacher on the day of Pentecost and played a significant role as an evangelist.

Peter’s ministry among early Christians was probably only surpassed by Paul in terms of the scope of his ministry. He eventually contributed two books to the canon that the church fathers established approximately three hundred years after his death.

In the Roman Catholic tradition, believers consider Peter as the first pope and claim that the current pope follows a lineage that can be traced back to him. In recognition of his prominence and ministry, the cathedral in the Vatican City carries the name Peter.

Death

Tradition, which includes documents authored by Clement of Alexandria and Eusebius of Caesarea, holds that Peter was a martyr in Rome during the rule of Nero. The legend goes that Peter was crucified upside down because he did not consider himself worthy to be martyred as Jesus was.

He lived a dedicated life remaining faithful to spreading the gospel wherever he went. Peter did go to prison for Christ and eventually died for his sake, but only after encountering the resurrected Christ and being restored in his relationship with him.