Peter
Peter, first called Simon, was a fisherman from Galilee whom Jesus called to follow him and gave the name Cephas, or Peter. The Gospels and Acts tell his story, and two New Testament letters begin with his name.
Simon was a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee, working with his brother Andrew. Andrew brought him to Jesus, who gave him a new name, Cephas or Peter, which means “rock.” He left his nets to follow Jesus and became the first named of the twelve apostles. With James and John, he saw things the others did not, such as Jesus transfigured on the mountain.
Peter often spoke up for the others. He walked on the water toward Jesus, and he was the one who said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” But on the night Jesus was arrested, he denied three times that he knew him, and then he wept bitterly. After the resurrection, Jesus asked him three times, “Do you love me?” and told him, “Feed my sheep.”
In Acts, Peter speaks for the apostles in Jerusalem. He preaches at Pentecost, heals in Jesus' name, and stands firm before the council. God uses a vision to show him he should not call any person unclean, and he has the Roman centurion Cornelius and those gathered with him baptized. He was rescued from prison by an angel, and he wrote to the churches as “a witness of Christ's sufferings” (1 Peter 5:1).
Peter's Story
Follow his life from the fishing boats of Galilee to the church in Jerusalem and beyond. Read each event in Scripture, and see how it all fits together.
- Part 1 · 5 eventsThe Fisherman CalledSimon, a fisherman from Galilee, meets Jesus, leaves his nets and is named Peter.
- Part 2 · 8 eventsFollowing JesusPeter walks on the water, says Jesus is the Christ, and sees him transfigured.
- Part 3 · 6 eventsThe Last NightPeter promises to die with Jesus, falls asleep in the garden, and denies him three times.
- Part 4 · 3 eventsThe Risen LordPeter runs to the empty tomb, and the risen Jesus gives him work to do.
- Part 5 · 7 eventsLeader in JerusalemPeter preaches at Pentecost, heals in Jesus' name, and stands firm before the council.
- Part 6 · 8 eventsThe Gospel for the GentilesGod shows Peter that the good news is for the Gentiles too.
- Part 7 · 1 eventPeter's LettersPeter writes to the churches as a witness of Christ's sufferings.
The Gospels tell Peter's years with Jesus in a similar order, though they sometimes differ in the order of events. Acts tells his leadership of the church, and Galatians and his letters add a little more. The Bible gives few dates. Where the details differ, the event says so.
Key facts
Tap a reference to read the verses.
- Also called
- Simon, Simon Peter, and Cephas
- Cephas and Peter both mean “rock.” The KJV says Cephas means “a stone” (John 1:42).
- Father
- John (called Jonah in Matthew)
- Bible copies differ here. The KJV reads “Simon the son of Jona” (John 1:42) and “Simon, son of Jonas” (John 21:15), and Matthew 16:17 has “Simon Barjona.”
- Hometown
- Bethsaida in Galilee. He and Andrew had a house in Capernaum.
- Family
- His brother was Andrew, also one of the Twelve. He was married.
- Work
- A fisherman, in partnership with James and John
- Among the Twelve
- Named first in every list of the apostles
- Chosen with James and John
- With James and John, he was with Jesus at the raising of Jairus' daughter, the Transfiguration, and in Gethsemane
- Sent to
- The Jews, as Paul was sent to the Gentiles
- Known as
- An unschooled, ordinary man who had been with Jesus
- Letters
- 1 Peter and 2 Peter begin with his name
- Christians have long received both letters as Peter's. Some scholars question whether he wrote them, especially 2 Peter.
- Death
- Not recorded in the Bible. Jesus spoke of the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God.