Category:Peter (subject)

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According to Christian traditions, Simon Peter / Cephas (1st cent. CE), a Jew from Galilee and the brother of Andrew, was the leader of the Twelve Apostles chosen by Jesus of Nazareth.

< Call of the First Disciples -- Peter's Mother-in-Law -- Choosing of the Twelve -- Raising of Jairus' Daughter -- Walking on Water -- Peter's Confession -- First Prediction of the Passion -- Transfiguration of Jesus -- Rich Young Man -- Cursing the Fig Tree -- Last Supper -- Arrest of Jesus -- Peter's Denial -- Empty Tomb -- Appearances of Jesus -- Gathering of teh Twelve at Jerusalem -- Christian Pentecost -- Peter's Preaching at Jerusalem -- Martyrdom of Peter -- Relics of Peter >

Overview

The character of Peter is known exclusively from Christian sources. His figure is associated with numerous events of the life of Jesus of Nazareth. He is also presented as a major leader of the nascent Christian movement.

The call of Peter

In the Gospel of Mark and in the Gospel of Matthew, Simon and his brother Andrew are introduced as "fishermen" whom Jesus met while "passing along the Sea of Galilee" (Mk 1:16). Jesus invited them to follow him and "fish for people" (1:17). They "immediately left their nets and followed him" (1:18). The same did, immediately later, the sons of Zebedee, James and John. Then they all went to Capernaeum, where "the house of Simon and Andrew" was (Mk 1:29). Simon was married; his "mother-in-law was in bed with a fever" but Jesus healed her (1:30-31). The next morning, Jesus got up and went out to pray. "Simon and his companions hunted for him [until] they found him". They left Capernaum and "went throughout Galilee" (1:35-39).

In the Gospel of Luke, The order of events is reversed. Jesus first entered "the house of Simon" and healed his "mother-in-law". Then he met Simon on "his" boat.

According to the Gospel of John, Peter and his brother Andrew were from Bethsaida in Galilee (Jn 1:44). It was Andrew, a former disciple of John the Baptist, who first met Jesus and then "found his brother Simon [Peter]" and brought him to Jesus, saying: "We have found the Messiah" (Jn 1:35-41).

The Twelve

According to the Gospel of Mark, when Jesus appointed Twelve of his disciples as "apostles": "Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter)" is listed first. His name was changed by Jesus himself (3:13-19).

The Gospel of Matthew provides a similar list of the Twelve but does not relate the name Peter to Jesus' decision. Simon "is called Peter" even before meeting Jesus" (4:18).

In the Gospel of John the name Peter was imposed by Jesus on him as soon as he met him (Jn 1:42).

Accompanying Jesus in the House of Jairus

According to the Gospel of Mark, when Jesus went to the house of Jairus to heal his daughter, "he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James" (Mk 5.37)

The "confession" of Peter

After asking his disciples: "Who do people say that I am?... Jesus asked them, But who do you say that I am? Peter answered him, You are the Christ.” (Mk 8:27-30). But when Jesus added that "the Son of Man must undergo great suffering... Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and seeing his disciples, [Jesus] rebuked Peter and said, Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man (8:31-33).

In the Gospel of Thomas, Peter is said to have answered: "You are a righteous angel" (13).

Present at the Transfiguration of Jesus

According to the Gospels of Mark, Matthew and Luke, Peter was with James son of Zebedee and John, one of three disciples who were present at the Transfiguration of Jesus. He was the one who is somehow teased for asking Jesus to "make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah."

The Denial of Jesus

The leader of the early Church

The Acts of Apostles and the letters of Paul are rich of details also about the role of Peter after the death of Jesus and depict him as of the leaders of the early Jesus movement.

The writer

Two letters in the New Testament, 1 Peter and 2 Peter, are attributed to Peter. The Gospel of Mark is also ascribed to him (as Mark was his disciple and interpreter). Several other ancient Christian texts bear his name-—the Acts of Peter, Gospel of Peter, Preaching of Peter, Revelation of Peter, and Judgement of Peter

Peter in ancient sources

Peter (sources) -- survey of ancient sources

Peter in literature & the arts

As the chief of the Twelve, Peter was a major figure in Christian iconography. The aura of respect that surrounded his figure (and his association with the Papacy), however, limited for centuries his potential as a dramatic character in fiction. When in 1601 Caravaggio depicted Peter with the physical features of a "real" fisherman and worker, the painting generated controversy and scandal. Only in the 20th centuries, Peter has received more attention by novelists and filmmakers, notably, in The King of Kings (1927 DeMille), film, The Big Fisherman (1948 Douglas), novel, The Power of the Resurrection (1958 Schuster), film, Peter and Paul (1981 Day), film, and San Pietro (2005 Base), film.