Bible Characters
Who Was Peter in the Bible? Fisherman, Apostle, and Church Leader
Peter was a fisherman from Galilee who became one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and a leading figure in the early church. His given name was Simon, and Jesus gave him the name Cephas, which translates as Peter, meaning "rock" (John 1:42). He confessed Jesus as the Messiah, denied Him three times on the night of His arrest, was restored after the resurrection, and preached the first sermon at Pentecost (Matthew 16:16; Luke 22:54-62; John 21:15-17; Acts 2:14-41). Two New Testament letters bear his name.
Quick Facts About Peter
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Name meaning | Peter (Greek) and Cephas (Aramaic) both mean "rock" |
| Testament | New Testament |
| Key books | Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts 1-15, Galatians 1-2, 1 and 2 Peter |
| Time period | 1st century AD (traditionally died in Rome in the mid-60s AD) |
| Known for | Confessing Jesus as the Christ, denying Jesus, preaching at Pentecost, leading the Jerusalem church |
Who Was Peter in the Bible Before He Met Jesus?
Peter's father was named John (John 1:42), also called Jonah (Matthew 16:17). He came from Bethsaida, the same town as Andrew and Philip (John 1:44), and he later had a house in Capernaum (Mark 1:21, 1:29). He was married, and Jesus healed his mother-in-law of a fever (Mark 1:30-31). Paul later mentions that Peter took a believing wife with him on his travels (1 Corinthians 9:5).
Peter and his brother Andrew worked as fishermen on the Sea of Galilee, in partnership with James and John, the sons of Zebedee (Luke 5:10). The Jewish leaders later described Peter and John as unschooled, ordinary men (Acts 4:13).
Called to Follow Jesus
First Meeting
Andrew had been a disciple of John the Baptist. After hearing John identify Jesus as the Lamb of God, Andrew found his brother and told him they had found the Messiah (John 1:35-41). The Gospel of John records what happened next:
"And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, 'You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas' (which, when translated, is Peter)." (John 1:42)
Fishers of People
Later, by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus called Simon and Andrew to follow Him and said He would send them out to fish for people. They left their nets at once (Mark 1:16-18). Luke records a large catch of fish that nearly sank the boats. Peter fell at Jesus' knees and said he was a sinful man, and Jesus told him not to be afraid (Luke 5:4-10).
Peter is listed first in every list of the twelve apostles (Matthew 10:2; Mark 3:16; Luke 6:14; Acts 1:13).
Peter During Jesus' Ministry
Walking on Water
When Jesus came to the disciples walking on the lake, Peter asked to come to Him on the water. He walked toward Jesus, but when he saw the wind he became afraid and began to sink. Jesus caught him and asked why he doubted (Matthew 14:28-31).
The Confession at Caesarea Philippi
Jesus asked the disciples who they said He was. Peter answered that He was the Messiah, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:15-16). Jesus called him blessed and said this had been revealed by His Father in heaven. He then said that on this rock He would build His church and gave Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 16:17-19).
Protestant and Catholic interpreters differ on what "this rock" refers to and on what authority it implies. The text itself records Jesus' words to Peter without naming later church offices.
Right after this, Jesus began to explain that He must suffer and be killed. Peter took Him aside and rebuked Him, and Jesus rebuked Peter in turn, telling Satan to get behind Him (Matthew 16:21-23).
The Inner Circle
Peter, James, and John witnessed events the other disciples did not. They saw Jesus raise Jairus's daughter (Mark 5:37-42), saw Him transfigured on the mountain (Matthew 17:1-2), and were taken farther into Gethsemane to pray (Mark 14:33). At the transfiguration, Peter offered to put up three shelters (Matthew 17:4).
The Night of Jesus' Arrest
The Warning
At the Last Supper, Peter at first refused to let Jesus wash his feet, then asked Him to wash his hands and head as well (John 13:6-9). He insisted he would never fall away, even if he had to die. Jesus told him that before the rooster crowed, he would disown Him three times (Matthew 26:33-35).
The Sword and the Denial
When soldiers came to arrest Jesus, Peter drew a sword and cut off the right ear of the high priest's servant, Malchus. Jesus told him to put the sword away (John 18:10-11), and Luke records that Jesus healed the ear (Luke 22:51).
Peter followed at a distance to the high priest's courtyard (Luke 22:54). Three times he was identified as a follower of Jesus, and three times he denied it. As he spoke the third time, a rooster crowed, the Lord turned and looked at Peter, and Peter went out and wept bitterly (Luke 22:55-62).
The Resurrection and Restoration
When Mary Magdalene reported the empty tomb, Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved (traditionally identified as John), ran there. Peter went inside and saw the strips of linen lying there (John 20:2-7). The risen Lord appeared to Peter individually (Luke 24:34; 1 Corinthians 15:5).
Later, beside the Sea of Galilee, Jesus asked Peter three times whether he loved Him. Each time Peter said yes, and Jesus told him to feed or take care of His sheep (John 21:15-17). Jesus then indicated the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God (John 21:18-19).
Peter in the Early Church
Pentecost
After the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, Peter stood with the Eleven and addressed the crowd. He explained the event from the prophet Joel and proclaimed that God had raised Jesus from the dead (Acts 2:14-36). He called the people to repent and be baptized, and about three thousand were added that day (Acts 2:38-41).
Healing and Arrest
At the temple gate called Beautiful, Peter healed a man lame from birth in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth (Acts 3:1-8). Peter and John were arrested and questioned by the Sanhedrin. Peter told them salvation is found in no one else (Acts 4:8-12). When ordered to stop preaching, the apostles answered that they must obey God rather than human beings (Acts 5:29).
The Gospel to the Gentiles
Peter received a vision of a sheet filled with animals and heard a voice telling him not to call anything impure that God had made clean (Acts 10:9-16). He then went to the house of Cornelius, a Roman centurion. While Peter was speaking, the Holy Spirit came on the Gentiles who heard, and they were baptized (Acts 10:44-48).
Prison and the Jerusalem Council
King Herod put Peter in prison, and an angel led him out (Acts 12:1-10). At the Jerusalem council, Peter argued that God had given the Holy Spirit to Gentiles just as to Jews and that both are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus (Acts 15:7-11).
Paul later wrote that he opposed Peter to his face in Antioch when Peter separated himself from Gentile believers (Galatians 2:11-14). For more on Paul, see who was Paul in the Bible.
Peter's Letters and Death
The New Testament includes two letters that identify their author as Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1). First Peter was written with the help of Silas and sends greetings from "she who is in Babylon" and from Mark (1 Peter 5:12-13). Early church tradition connects Mark's Gospel to Peter's preaching; see who was Mark in the Bible.
The Bible does not record Peter's death, though Jesus foretold it (John 21:18-19) and Peter wrote that his departure would come soon (2 Peter 1:14). Early church tradition holds that he was crucified in Rome under Nero, and a later tradition adds that he was crucified upside down. These accounts come from tradition, not from Scripture.
Key Lessons From Peter's Life
- Confession of Christ. Peter identified Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16).
- Failure is real. He denied Jesus three times after promising he would not (Luke 22:33-34, 22:61-62).
- Restoration is offered. Jesus met with Peter after the resurrection and gave him the charge to care for His sheep (John 21:15-17).
- Boldness under pressure. Before the Sanhedrin, he said they must obey God rather than people (Acts 5:29).
- Openness to correction. Through the vision and Cornelius, Peter learned that God accepts people from every nation (Acts 10:34-35).
Where Peter Appears in the Bible
- Matthew 4, 10, 14, 16, 17, 26
- Mark 1, 3, 5, 8, 9, 14, 16:7
- Luke 5, 9, 22, 24
- John 1, 6, 13, 18, 20, 21
- Acts 1-5, 8-12, 15
- 1 Corinthians 1:12, 9:5, 15:5; Galatians 1:18, 2:7-14
- 1 Peter and 2 Peter
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Peter in the Bible?
Peter was a Galilean fisherman named Simon whom Jesus called to be an apostle and renamed Cephas, or Peter (John 1:42). He became a leader of the early church and preached the first sermon at Pentecost (Acts 2:14-41).
Why did Jesus call Simon "Peter"?
Jesus gave Simon the name Cephas, which translates as Peter, and both mean "rock" (John 1:42). After Peter's confession, Jesus said that on this rock He would build His church (Matthew 16:18).
How many times did Peter deny Jesus?
Peter denied knowing Jesus three times in the high priest's courtyard, as Jesus had predicted (Luke 22:34, 22:54-62).
Was Peter married?
Yes. Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law (Mark 1:30-31), and Paul notes that Peter took a believing wife with him (1 Corinthians 9:5).
How did Peter die?
The Bible does not describe Peter's death, though Jesus foretold that he would glorify God by it (John 21:18-19). Early church tradition says he was crucified in Rome under Nero.