Biography+on+Peter

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=**Before He Became a Disciple **=

= = Simon Peter, or as DeHaan refers to him as “the great paradox among the disciples,” is known for his boldness as well as for his hasty foolishness and fear. [|[i]] Peter was born to a fisherman named Jonah and was the brother of Andrew, another one of the twelve disciples. Peter came from Bethsaida and “with Andrew is the first disciple whom Jesus calls.”[|[ii]] Bethsaida, which means “house of fishing,” was “on the north bank of the Sea of Galilee.” Although he was called Simon, Christ changed his name to Peter. Peter, or Petros as it is in Greek, means “stone” or “rock.” Peter was the clear leader of the disciples, and was the “pre-eminent” of the three who witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus. [|[iii]] Peter’s name always is listed first when the disciples are named in the Bible. Peter did not have any formal education, yet it is possible that he studied the Scriptures as many young Jewish boys do. Peter had a wife who journeyed with him on at least of few of his ventures.[|[iv]] Peter lived in Capernaum very close to the synagogue.[|[v]] =**Peter’s Ministry Under Jesus **=

= = After hearing Christ and being convinced that he was truly the Messiah, Andrew went and found Peter and brought him to Christ explaining who He was. Peter came to see the Lord and the Lord stated, “ You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called ‘Cephas’ (which is translated Peter).” Meyer explains this by stating, “This is our Lord’s method of making saints. He speaks of things that are not as though they were. When the heart is broken and contrite, as was the case with Peter, He speaks words of encouragement and cheer. He imputes righteousness where there is but the smallest germ of faith.”[|[vi]] In Matthew’s Gospel, Peter responded to Jesus’ question by stating, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” It was at this point that Jesus decided to change his name to Peter indicating his salvation and new nature in Christ. The name Simon represents who he is in the flesh and Peter represents who he is in the spirit. He is referred to as Simon Peter which indicates that until heaven he would continually struggle to live for the Lord constantly battling with His old nature, even though he was made new in Christ.[|[vii]] We clearly see the difference between the flesh and the spirit in Peters life, for example, after he told Christ that even if everyone else forsook him, he would not, only moments later he was more than eager to deny that he ever knew Jesus.[|[viii]] Peter had come to know Christ as his Savior, but had gone back to living his life as a fisherman. In Luke 5, we read about the night that Peter did not catch any fish. Jesus then gave a message to the people from the ship and then told Peter to try again. After Peter finally did so, they caught many fish. [|[ix]] At this point, Peter realized his sinfulness and said, “Depart form me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”[|[x]] Simon had been calling Jesus, “Master,” but after repenting he called him “Lord.” The Lord had been calling Peter, “Simon, but, as DeHaan states, “But when Simon comes to the place of acknowledging Him as Lord, the name, Peter, occurs. This is the new nature which is now coming to the forefront, the new man of the spirit who is willing to follow the Lord Jesus Christ.”<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xi]] After this occurred Jesus explained to Peter, that from then on, Peter would be fishing for or catching men. This meant that Peter was going to preach the gospel and make disciples for Christ. Peter then sacrificed his job and everything else in order to follow Christ. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xii]] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: 200%; margin-right: -40.5pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">A little while after this miracle, Jesus came into Peter’s house and healed his sick mother-in-law. She was very sick and could very likely have died, because in this time period high fevers were very dangerous. One author explains, “We can only speculate, but her presence in the house hints at an openness in Peter, not only to care for his wife but to take on this extra burden for love.”<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xiii]] On another occasion, the disciples were going across the lake as Jesus told them when a storm hit. Jesus walked out on the water to them and scared them because they think He is a ghost. Once Jesus told them who he was, Peter asked him to call him out onto the water. After Jesus told him to come, Peter began walking on the water and then became afraid and started sinking. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xiv]] He cried out for Jesus to help him. Jesus did and according to Matthew 14 he said, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” “The lesson is that Peter needed to sink in order to take the next step of faith in Jesus. Because walking on the water does not ultimately increase our faith, only sinking does.”<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xv]] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: 200%; margin-right: -40.5pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">In Matthew 16, Jesus gave Peter and the rest of the apostles the keys of the kingdom. Dr Halstead explains this by stating that they were, “Given the privilege of opening gates of different areas of the world.” They were given the responsibility “to admit or exclude from blessing.”<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xvi]] However, contrary to what many believe about the phrase “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church;” it does not refer to Peter but to Christ.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xvii]] In the same chapter, Jesus told the disciples about what was going to happen concerning His death and resurrection. Peter was then rebuked by Christ and called “Satan” because he was acting as a stumbling block when he said “God forbid it, Lord…” According to Card, “What Peter does not understand is that before the glory there must come the passion, the suffering and death of the Christ. Peter should not be looked down on for his naiveté. All the disciples - in fact, practically everyone in Judea - believed the same.” <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xviii]] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: 200%; margin-right: -40.5pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Peter was also at the Transfiguration of Christ. This event helped strengthen Peter’s faith in what he claimed and said about Christ earlier. Peter was afraid when he witnessed this and did not know what to say. He asked if it was acceptable that he and the other two disciples be there and suggests building three tents for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. Peter said this probably because he wanted to protect himself and the others from the radiance of Christ and the two others. “On that mount Peter and the others got a glimpse into heaven. He discovered that not all mysteries will be explained there, but instead we will know how truly vast and unknowable the mystery of Christ is. Of all that he might have recounted, this incident is the only historical experience with Jesus to which Peter refers to in his letters!” As we learn from Luke’s gospel, the transfiguration was a result of Jesus’ prayer. Peter is forever affected by what he saw on the mount of transfiguration. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xix]] = **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Peter after Jesus’ Death ** =

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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: 200%; margin-right: -40.5pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">In Acts chapter 2 Peter gave a speech which as Munck sates, “The speech was addressed to Jews only and the Pentecostal miracle predicted the mission among the Jews all over the world.”<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xx]] This miracle and speaking so that all could understand in their own language, fulfilled OT prophecy. Peter, who represented the 12 disciples, spoke about Jesus, causing problems between Christians and Jews.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xxi]] In Acts 3, we read about Peter and John healing a lame man. They were going to pray at the temple when they met a man who was unable to walk. The man pleaded for money but they healed him in Jesus’ name, which was far better.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xxii]] This occasion led to an opportunity for Peter to speak about Christ and the fact that the Jewish people were responsible for putting Him to death. God is in control and used this act to accomplish His plan of redemption. Munck explains, “Therefore the Jews must have a change of heart and be converted, so that their sins could be wiped out and the times of renewal might come and Christ return. Even though a quotation from the Old Testament pointed out that every man who did not obey the Lord’s prophet should be eradicated from the people, Peter’s exhortation was full of optimism.”<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xxiii]] In the middle of Peter’s speech, he and John were arrested for a day because they taught that Jesus had risen from the dead. The next day, they had to stand before the Sanhedrin and answer a question about the power with which they healed the man. The text informs us that Peter, “filled with the Holy Spirit” responded by telling them that they healed him by the name of Jesus. They were released and told not to preach in Jesus’ name. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xxiv]] After being released, Peter and John explained what had happened and their friends prayed for them and then the Holy Spirit filled the disciples and the house shook. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: 200%; margin-right: -40.5pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">In Acts 5, we read that Peter and the other disciples were in the temple at Solomon’s Portico where many people were healed and converted by the disciples who were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xxv]] The apostles were arrested yet a second time and the Lord ensured that they would escape and they were found the next day back in the temple preaching. The rulers were extremely angry and wanted to kill the apostles, however God used Gamaliel to speak up for them and they were spared. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xxvi]] In Acts 8, Peter and John joined Philip in Samaria and “conveyed the Holy Spirit to the Christians in Samaria.” Peter then had to explain to Simon the magician that he could not buy the power of the Holy Spirit.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xxvii]] Peter was responsible for baptizing the first Gentile, shortly after he visited the believers in Lydda and Joppa. It is there that he healed a man called Aeneas and also raised Dorcas from the dead. =**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Peter’s Epistles and Martyrdom **=

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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: 200%; margin-right: -40.5pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">Peter died a martyr’s death. Peter wrote 1 and 2nd Peter sometime before he was martyred. “Both writings have the character of testaments of the apostle just before his martyrdom.”<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xxviii]] 1 Peter was written in 65 A.D. from Rome. 2 Peter was written in 67-68 A.D. from Rome before his death. Both epistles were written too Gentile Christians as well as Jews. The theme of 1 Peter is “Christian suffering” and the theme of 2 Peter is “Warning against false teachers”. The reason for writing 1 Peter was to “Exhort and strengthen Christians who were in jeopardy of losing their lives” and the purpose of 2 Peter was “To deal with heresies that were threatening to lead his people astray”.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xxix]] While there is some debate about the details of his death, it is probable that he died in Rome, during the time of Nero’s persecution. This probably took place sometime between 64 and 68 A.D. “The acts of Peter, which did not necessarily adhere to historical fact, later added that Peter insisted on being crucified upside down, so as not to compete with Jesus.”<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xxx]] Where Peter’s body was put is a mystery, but some argue that he was buried “on the south side of the Vatican, near the place of his execution.”<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xxxi]]

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Bibliography on Peter: **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Card, Michael. A Fragile Stone: The Emotional Life of Simon Peter. publication place: IVP Books, 2003.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Bock, Darrell L. Acts (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament). publication place: Baker Academic, 2007.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Cullmann, Oscar. Peter : Disciple, Apostle, Martyr : A Historical and Theological Study. Enlarged 2nd ed. publication place: Westminster Press, 1962.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Grant, Michael. SAINT PETER: A BIOGRAPHY. 1st Scribner Ed ed. New York:

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Scribner, 1995.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Haan, M. R. De. Simon Peter: Sinner and Saint. publication place: Grand Rapids, MI, U.S.A.: Zondervan Publishing, 1954, publication year.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Hengel, Martin. Saint Peter: The Underestimated Apostle. Reprint ed. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2010

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Johnson, Luke Timothy. The Acts of the Apostles (Sacra Pagina Series. Vol. 5). Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press, 1992.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Meyer, F. B., and Lance Wubbels. Life of Peter: Fisherman, Disciple, Apostle (Christian Living Classics). Lynnwood, Wash.: YWAM Publishing, 1996.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Munck, Johannes. The Acts of the Apostles (Anchor Bible, Vol 31). Garden City, New

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">York: Anchor Bible, 1967.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[i] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">M. R. De Haan, //Simon Peter: Sinner and Saint// (Grand Rapids, MI: Grand Rapids, MI, U.S.A.: Zondervan Publishing, 1954, 1954), 11. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[ii]] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Oscar Cullmann, //Peter. Disciple Apostle Martyr// (New York: The World Publishing Company, 1961), 21-23. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[iii]] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Michael Grant, //SAINT PETER: A BIOGRAPHY//, 1st Scribner Ed ed. (New York, New York: Scribner, 1995), 55-59. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[iv]] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Michael Card, //A Fragile Stone: The Emotional Life of Simon Peter// (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 2003), 16-17. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[v]] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Ibid., 44. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[vi]] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">F. B. (Frederick Brotherton) Meyer, //Peter: Fisherman, Disciple, Apostle: -1919// (Unknown: Cornell University Library, 1950), 14. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[vii]] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">M. R. De Haan, //Simon Peter: Sinner and Saint// (Grand Rapids, MI: Grand Rapids, MI, U.S.A.: Zondervan Publishing, 1954, 1954), 19-20. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[viii]] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Ibid., 18. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[ix]] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Ibid., 43-45. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[x]] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> Luke 5:8 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xi]] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">M. R. De Haan, //Simon Peter: Sinner and Saint// (Grand Rapids, MI: Grand Rapids, MI, U.S.A.: Zondervan Publishing, 1954, 1954), 46. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xii]] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Ibid., 46-47. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xiii]] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Michael Card, //A Fragile Stone: The Emotional Life of Simon Peter// (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 2003), 45. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xiv]] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Michael Card, //A Fragile Stone: The Emotional Life of Simon Peter// (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 2003), 48. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xv]] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Michael Card, //A Fragile Stone: The Emotional Life of Simon Peter// (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 2003), 53. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xvi]] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> Tom Halstead, New Testament I, (course notes, The Master’s College, Santa Clarita, Ca, Fall 2010). <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xvii]] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> Ibid., <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xviii]] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Michael Card, //A Fragile Stone: The Emotional Life of Simon Peter// (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 2003), 68. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xix]] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Ibid., 76-80. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xx]] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Johannes Munck, //The Acts of the Apostles (Anchor Bible, Vol 31)// (Garden City, New York: Anchor Bible, 1967), 17. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xxi]] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Ibid., 19. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xxii]] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Ibid., 25. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xxiii]] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Ibid., 30. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xxiv]] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Ibid., 31,35. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xxv]] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> Luke Timothy Johnson, //The Acts of the Apostles (Sacra Pagina Series//, vol. 5) (Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press, 1992), 101. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xxvi]] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Johannes Munck, //The Acts of the Apostles (Anchor Bible, Vol 31)// (Garden City, New York: Anchor Bible, 1967), 49-50. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xxvii]] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Ibid., 76. <span style="font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xxviii]] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 17px;">Martin Hengel, //Saint Peter: The Underestimated Apostle//, Reprint ed. (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2010), 12. <span style="font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xxix]] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Tom Halstead, New Testament II, (course notes, The Master’s College, Santa Clarita, CA, Fall 2010). <span style="font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xxx]] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Michael Grant, //SAINT PETER: A BIOGRAPHY//, 1st Scribner Ed ed. (New York, New York: Scribner, 1995), 152-153. <span style="font-family: 'Times','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|[xxxi]] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Michael Grant, //SAINT PETER: A BIOGRAPHY//, 1st Scribner Ed ed. (New York, New York: Scribner, 1995), 155.

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