ONE OF THE TWELVE

Peter

“I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven”

Also called Simon · Simon Peter · Cephas · Simon Bar-jona · Simeon (Acts 15:14)

VERSES THAT NAME HIM

178

RECORDS WITH JESUS

NAMED BESIDE HIM

SOURCES OUTSIDE SCRIPTURE on how it ends

HIS LIFE IN FOUR PARTS

How much does Scripture tell?

A fisherman from Bethsaida, named first in every list of the Twelve. Scripture gives no years for his life, so the ring is divided by how much is recorded: 41 records of what he did or what was said to him, one bead each. The last part is tradition and is drawn dashed. Choose a part to read it.

II · THE GOSPELS, IN THE HARMONY’S ORDER

With Jesus

Brought to Jesus by Andrew and named Cephas John 1:40–42
Called from his nets by the sea of Galilee Matthew 4:18–20
His wife’s mother healed at his house Mark 1:29–31
Named first when the Twelve are chosen Mark 3:13–19
One of three allowed into Jairus’s house Mark 5:37
Sent out with the Twelve; first in Matthew’s list Matthew 10:1–5
Walks on the water and begins to sink Matthew 14:28–31
“Lord, to whom shall we go?” John 6:66–69
Says “Thou art the Christ” near Caesarea Philippi Matthew 16:13–20
Rebukes Jesus and is rebuked: “Get thee behind me” Matthew 16:21–23
On the mountain at the transfiguration Matthew 17:1–8
The coin in the fish’s mouth for the temple tax Matthew 17:24–27
Asks how often he must forgive Matthew 18:21–22
“We have left all, and followed thee” Matthew 19:27
Points out the withered fig tree Mark 11:20–21
Asks on the Mount of Olives when the temple will fall Mark 13:3–4
Sent with John to prepare the passover Luke 22:8
Protests as Jesus washes his feet John 13:6–10
Beckons the disciple whom Jesus loved to ask who the betrayer is John 13:24
Warned that he will deny Jesus three times Matthew 26:33–35
Asleep in Gethsemane Matthew 26:37–40
Cuts off the ear of Malchus John 18:10–11
Denies Jesus three times Matthew 26:69–75
The angel at the tomb: “tell his disciples and Peter” Mark 16:7
Runs to the empty tomb Luke 24:12
The risen Lord appears to Simon Luke 24:34
By the sea: 153 fish and “Feed my sheep” John 21:1–23

CHAPTER BY CHAPTER

Where is he named?

One square for each chapter of the books that name Peter: 178 verses in 54 chapters. The darker the square, the more verses in it name him. Choose a chapter to read what happens there.

THE GOSPELS AND ACTS

THE LETTERS AND REVELATION

ACTS 10

16 verses name him

And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:

WHAT HAPPENS HERE

Cornelius at Caesarea

CHAPTER I · BEFORE THE CALL

A fisherman of Bethsaida

Home, trade and family · 6 records

SCRIPTURE · MATTHEW 4:18

A fisherman with Andrew

¶ And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

A fisherman, casting a net with his brother Andrew (Matt 4:18). James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were his “partners” (Luke 5:10).

NAMED WITH HIM

Andrew, James son of Zebedee, John son of Zebedee, Zebedee

WHERE

Sea of Galilee

TOLD IN 2 BOOKS

Matthew 4:18·Luke 5:10

SCRIPTURE · JOHN 1:44

From Bethsaida; a house at Capernaum

Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.

Scripture says Philip “was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter” (John 1:44). In Capernaum Simon and Andrew had a house (Mark 1:21, 29), which Matthew calls “Peter’s house” (Matt 8:14).

NAMED WITH HIM

Andrew, James son of Zebedee, John son of Zebedee, Philip

WHERE

Bethsaida, Capernaum

TOLD IN 3 BOOKS

John 1:44·Mark 1:21·Mark 1:29·Matthew 8:14

CHAPTER II · WITH JESUS

Three years beside Jesus

The Gospels, in the harmony’s order · 27 records

SCRIPTURE · MATTHEW 4:18–20

Called from his nets by the sea of Galilee

And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

NAMED WITH HIM

Andrew, James son of Zebedee, John son of Zebedee, Zebedee

WHERE

Sea of Galilee

IN THE HARMONY

§41 · Jesus finds four fishers of men in four fishermen

TOLD IN 3 BOOKS

Matthew 4:18–20·Mark 1:16–18·Luke 5:1–11

SCRIPTURE · MATTHEW 16:13–20

Says “Thou art the Christ” near Caesarea Philippi

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

NAMED WITH HIM

John the Baptist

WHERE

Caesarea Philippi

IN THE HARMONY

§82 · Near cæsarea Philippi Jesus tests the faith of the Twelve in his messiahship

TOLD IN 3 BOOKS

Matthew 16:13–20·Mark 8:27–30·Luke 9:18–21

SCRIPTURE · MATTHEW 26:69–75

Denies Jesus three times

¶ Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.

IN THE HARMONY

§156 · Peter thrice denies his Lord

TOLD IN 4 BOOKS

Matthew 26:69–75·Mark 14:66–72·Luke 22:54–62·John 18:15–18·+1

SCRIPTURE · JOHN 21:1–23

By the sea: 153 fish and “Feed my sheep”

As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.

NAMED WITH HIM

Thomas, Nathanael, Zebedee

WHERE

Sea of Galilee

IN THE HARMONY

§180 · The appearance to seven disciples beside the sea of Galilee. The miraculous draught of fishes

PASSAGE

John 21:1–23

CHAPTER III · THE CHURCH IN ACTS

Jerusalem to Caesarea

Acts and the letters · 14 records

SCRIPTURE · ACTS 2:14–41

Pentecost

¶ But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judæa, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

At Pentecost he speaks for the Eleven (“Peter, standing up with the eleven”), and about three thousand are baptized (Acts 2:14–41).

WHERE

Jerusalem

PASSAGE

Acts 2:14–41

SCRIPTURE · ACTS 3:1–26

The lame man at the temple gate

Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

With John he heals a lame man at the temple gate and speaks in Solomon’s porch (Acts 3:1–26).

NAMED WITH HIM

John son of Zebedee

WHERE

Jerusalem

PASSAGE

Acts 3:1–26

SCRIPTURE · ACTS 10:1–48

Cornelius at Caesarea

And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:

After a vision at Joppa he goes to the Roman centurion Cornelius at Caesarea, and the Holy Ghost falls on Gentiles (Acts 10:1–48). He defends this in Jerusalem (Acts 11:1–18).

NAMED WITH HIM

John the Baptist, Cornelius

WHERE

Caesarea

PASSAGE

Acts 10:1–48·Acts 11:1–18

SCRIPTURE · ACTS 12:3–17

Prison, and the angel

And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.

Herod kills James and then imprisons Peter; an angel leads him out. He goes to the house of Mary the mother of John Mark, then “departed, and went into another place” (Acts 12:3–17).

NAMED WITH HIM

Herod (Agrippa I), John Mark, James, the Lord’s brother

WHERE

Jerusalem

PASSAGE

Acts 12:3–17

CHAPTER IV · AFTER SCRIPTURE

After Scripture

Tradition, by who said it and when · 11 sources

SCRIPTURE FIRST

What Scripture says of his end

Jesus tells Peter that when he is old “another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not”. John adds: “This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God” (John 21:18–19).

Scripture John 21:18–19

The writer of 2 Peter, who names himself “Simon Peter” (2 Pet 1:1), says “shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me” (2 Pet 1:14). Who wrote 2 Peter is discussed on the Letters pages.

Scripture 2 Peter 1:1·2 Peter 1:14

Acts last names him at the council in Jerusalem (Acts 15:7) and never says how, where or when he died.

From the text Acts 15:7

THEN TRADITION · 11 SOURCES, EARLIEST FIRST

c. 95 Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 5 Early church
early 2nd c. Ignatius of Antioch, To the Romans 4 Early church
c. 170 Dionysius, bishop of Corinth, letter to the Romans, quoted by Eusebius (2.25.8) Early church
c. 180 Irenaeus, Against Heresies 3.1.1 Early church
c. 180 The Muratorian fragment, an anonymous list of New Testament books Early church
c. 200 Gaius (Caius) of Rome, against Proclus, quoted by Eusebius (2.25.7) Early church
c. 200 Tertullian, Prescription against Heretics 36 and Scorpiace 15 Early church
by 200 The Acts of Peter (apocryphal), chs. 35–37 Later tradition
3rd c. Origen, Commentary on Genesis book 3, as reported by Eusebius (3.1.2) Early church
c. 325 Eusebius, Church History 2.25.5 Early church
392 Jerome, Lives of Illustrious Men 1 Early church

Each is labelled with who said it and when; none is blended into Scripture.

THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM

Who was with him?

Every record of Peter in Scripture, in story order (the Gospels in the order of Robertson's harmony, then Acts and the letters). A person counts as "with him" only where a verse of that record names them both. 26 people in all.

named in the passage from first to last mention Point at a column to see what happens; click it to keep it (click again to let go); choose a name to follow that person.

I · BEFORE THE CALL

From Bethsaida; a house at Capernaum

Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.

NAMED WITH HIM HERE

Andrew Mark 1:29
James son of Zebedee Mark 1:29
John son of Zebedee Mark 1:29
Philip John 1:44

SIDE BY SIDE

One moment, several accounts

4 moments of his story told by more than one book, each in its own words in the King James Version. His names are marked; switch on "only here" to underline the words that just one account has.

BROUGHT BY ANDREW

John

John 1:41–42

1:41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

1:42 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.

BY THE SEA OF GALILEE

Matthew

Matthew 4:18–20

4:18 ¶ And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

4:20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

BY THE SEA OF GALILEE

Mark

Mark 1:16–18

1:16 Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

1:17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.

1:18 And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.

THE GREAT CATCH

Luke

Luke 5:8–11

5:8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

5:9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:

5:10 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.

5:11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

NEAR AND FAR

Where was he?

13 places named in his story, with what happened there and how far each lies from Jerusalem. Tradition's places are dashed, with who placed him there and when. Choose a card or a pin.

Scroll to zoom · drag to move · the map stays on his places Land outline: the Atlas (Natural Earth)

Not on the map, because our places data gives no coordinates: “Babylon” (Where 1 Peter was sent from. Which city is meant is disputed: Rome under a figure (Eusebius 2.15.2 reports that “they say” Peter wrote the letter in Rome), the city on the Euphrates, or another. The views are on the Letters page for 1 Peter, so no pin is drawn here).

OPEN QUESTIONS

What readers still ask

12 questions the reviewed sources leave open for Peter, with the answers given and who gives them, and 5 things Scripture does not say, in italic. Choose one.

VIEWS, WITH WHO HOLDS THEM · THIS PAGE

When did Peter come to Rome, and how long was he there?

He and Paul founded the Roman church together

Dionysius of Corinth (about 170); Irenaeus (about 180)

Irenaeus speaks of the church “founded and organized at Rome by the two most glorious apostles, Peter and Paul”, who then “committed into the hands of Linus the office of the episcopate”. Neither writer says how long Peter stayed.

Early church Irenaeus, 1885·Eusebius, 1890

He came to Rome at the end of his life

Origen (first half of the 3rd century), as reported by Eusebius

After preaching in Asia Minor, Peter “at last, having come to Rome, he was crucified”.

Early church Eusebius, 1890

He came under Claudius and led the church for twenty-five years

Eusebius (about 325) for the arrival under Claudius; Jerome (392) for the twenty-five years

Eusebius has Peter led to Rome “during the reign of Claudius”; Jerome dates it to “the second year of Claudius” and counts twenty-five years to Nero’s fourteenth year.

Early church Eusebius, 1890·Jerome, 1892

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