I. IntroductionSt. Peter the Apostle, original name Simeon or Simon, (died 64 CE, Rome [Italy]), disciple of Jesus Christ, recognized in the early Christian church as the leader of the 12 disciples and by the Roman Catholic Church as the first of its unbroken succession of popes.
⁃ Peter, a Jewish fisherman, was called to be a disciple of Jesus at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. He received from Jesus the name Cephas (from Aramaic Kepa [“Rock”]; hence Peter, from Petros, a Greek translation of Kepa).
⁃ Peter was a married man
Luke 4:38-41
Jesus Heal’s Peter’s Mother-Law
⁃ 38 Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. 39 So he bent over her and rebuked(C) the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them.
II. His Character
1. Peter is impulsive and capable of great anger and violence
John 18:10-11
Peter Cuts Off the Ear of a Soldier
10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)
11 Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup(A) the Father has given me?”
2. Peter is too excited and dramatic
Matthew 14:20-33
Jesus Walks on the Water
25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,”(D) they said, and cried out in fear.
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage!(E) It is I. Don’t be afraid.”(F)
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,”(G) he said, “why did you doubt?”
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”(H)
3. Peter is quick to speak his mind without full understanding of issue
Matthew 16,20-25
Peter Disagrees with Jesus’ Plan
21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem(C) and suffer many things(D) at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law,(E) and that he must be killed(F) and on the third day(G) be raised to life.(H)
22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan!(I) You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.(J) 25 For whoever wants to save their life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.(K)
4. Peter was rash and hasty
Luke 22,32-35
Peter Predicted to Deny Jesus
32 But I have prayed for you,(I) Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”(J)
33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”(K)
34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”
5. Peter was afraid
Luke 22:54-62
Peter Actually Denies Jesus
54 (A)Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house, (B)and Peter was following at a distance. 55 (C)And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of (D)the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59 And after an interval of about an hour still another (E)insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and (F)looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, (G)“Before the rooster crows today, you will (H)deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.
III. Peter a Different Person After Resurrection
1. Peter as Head of the Church with clear responsibility
John 21:15-19
Jesus Appoints Peter as Head of the Church with clear responsibility
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”(A)
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”(B)
16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”(C)
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?”(D) He said, “Lord, you know all things;(E) you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.(F) 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death(G) by which Peter would glorify God.(H) Then he said to him, “Follow me!”(I)
2. He was at times vacillating and unsure, as in his relations with the church of Antioch when he at first ate with the Gentiles and later refused to do so.
Galatians 2:11-14
Paul Reprimands Cephas
11 When Cephas(A) came to Antioch,(B) I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James,(C) he used to eat with the Gentiles.(D) But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group.(E) 13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas(F) was led astray.
14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel,(G) I said to Cephas(H) in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew.(I) How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?(J)
3. Peter was firm and resolute
Acts 4:10-12
10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,(A) whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead,(B) that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is
“‘the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the cornerstone.
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”(D)
4. Peter was against corruption
Acts 5:1-10
Ananias and Sapphira
5 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself,(A) but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.(B)
3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan(C) has so filled your heart(D) that you have lied to the Holy Spirit(E) and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?(F) 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal?(G) What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”(H)
5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died.(I) And great fear(J) seized all who heard what had happened. 6 Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body,(K) and carried him out and buried him.
7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”
“Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”(L)
9 Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord?(M) Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”
10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died.(N) Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.(O)
5. Peter Heals like Jesus
Acts 3:1-6
Peter Heals a Lame Beggar
3 One day Peter and John(A) were going up to the temple(B) at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.(C) 2 Now a man who was lame from birth(D) was being carried to the temple gate(E) called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg(F) from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,(G) walk.”
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source: forwarded by fr ed fugoso for our every-other-Sunday bible / faith sharing
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