On the day of Pentecost, Peter was the main speaker to the crowd in Jerusalem( Acts 2:14ff), and the Church began with an influx of about 3,000 new believers( verse 41). Later, Peter healed a lame beggar( Acts 3) and preached boldly before the Sanhedrin( Acts 4). Even arrest, beatings, and threats could not dampen Peter’ s resolve to preach the risen Christ( Acts 5).
Jesus’ promise that Peter would be foundational in building the Church was fulfilled in three stages: Peter preached on the day of Pentecost( Acts 2). Then, he was present when the Samaritans received the Holy Spirit( Acts 8). Finally, he was summoned to the home of the Roman centurion Cornelius, who also believed and received the Holy Spirit( Acts 10). In this way, Peter“ unlocked” three different worlds and opened the door of the Church to Jews, Samaritans, and Gentiles.
Even as an apostle, Peter experienced some growing pains. At first, he had resisted taking the gospel to Cornelius, a Gentile. However, when he saw the Romans receive the Holy Spirit in the same manner he had, Peter concluded that“ God does not show favoritism”( Acts 10:34). After that, Peter strongly defended the Gentiles’ position as believers and was adamant that they did not need to conform to Jewish law( Acts 15:7-11).
Another episode of growth in Peter’ s life concerns his visit to Antioch, where he enjoyed the fellowship of Gentile believers. However, when some legalistic Jews arrived in Antioch, Peter, to appease them, withdrew from the Gentile Christians. The Apostle Paul saw this as hypocrisy and called it such to Peter’ s face( Galatians 2:11-14).
Later in life, Peter spent time with John Mark( 1 Peter 5:13), who wrote the gospel of Mark based on Peter’ s remembrances of his time with Jesus. Peter wrote two inspired epistles, 1 and 2 Peter, between A. D. 60 and 68. Jesus said that Peter would die a martyr’ s death( John 21:18-19)— a prophecy fulfilled, presumably, during Nero’ s reign. Tradition has it that Peter was crucified upside down in Rome, and, although such the story may be true, there is no scriptural or historical witness to the particulars of Peter’ s death.
What can we learn from Peter’ s life? Here are a few lessons:
Jesus overcomes fear. Whether stepping out of a boat onto a tossing sea or stepping across the threshold of a Gentile home for the first time, Peter found courage in following Christ.“ There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear”( 1 John 4:18).
Jesus forgives unfaithfulness. After he had boasted of his fidelity, Peter fervently denied the Lord three times. It seemed that Peter had burned his bridges, but Jesus lovingly rebuilt them and restored Peter to service. Peter was a former failure, but, with Jesus, failure is not the end.“ If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself”( 2 Timothy 2:13).
Jesus patiently teaches. Over and over, Peter needed correction, and the Lord gave it with patience, firmness, and love. The Master Teacher looks for students willing to learn.“ I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go”( Psalm 32:8).
Jesus sees us as He intends us to be. The very first time they met, Jesus called Simon“ Peter.” The rough and reckless fisherman was, in Jesus’ eyes, a firm and faithful rock.“ He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion”( Philippians 1:6).
Jesus uses unlikely heroes. Peter was a fisherman from Galilee, but Jesus called him to be a fisher of men( Luke 5:10). Because Peter was willing to leave all he had to follow Jesus, God used him in great ways. As Peter preached, people were amazed at his boldness because he was“ unschooled” and“ ordinary.” But then they took note that Peter“ had been with Jesus”( Acts 4:13).
Being with Jesus makes all the difference.
Jeremiah
' For I will restore you to health And I will heal you of your wounds,' declares the LORD, ' Because they have called you an outcast, saying: " It is Zion; no one cares for her."
On the day of Pentecost, Peter was the main speaker to the crowd in Jerusalem( Acts 2:14ff), and the Church began with an influx of about 3,000 new believers( verse 41). Later, Peter healed a lame beggar( Acts 3) and preached boldly before the Sanhedrin( Acts 4). Even arrest, beatings, and threats could not dampen Peter’ s resolve to preach the risen Christ( Acts 5).
Jesus’ promise that Peter would be foundational in building the Church was fulfilled in three stages: Peter preached on the day of Pentecost( Acts 2). Then, he was present when the Samaritans received the Holy Spirit( Acts 8). Finally, he was summoned to the home of the Roman centurion Cornelius, who also believed and received the Holy Spirit( Acts 10). In this way, Peter“ unlocked” three different worlds and opened the door of the Church to Jews, Samaritans, and Gentiles.
Even as an apostle, Peter experienced some growing pains. At first, he had resisted taking the gospel to Cornelius, a Gentile. However, when he saw the Romans receive the Holy Spirit in the same manner he had, Peter concluded that“ God does not show favoritism”( Acts 10:34). After that, Peter strongly defended the Gentiles’ position as believers and was adamant that they did not need to conform to Jewish law( Acts 15:7-11).
Another episode of growth in Peter’ s life concerns his visit to Antioch, where he enjoyed the fellowship of Gentile believers. However, when some legalistic Jews arrived in Antioch, Peter, to appease them, withdrew from the Gentile Christians. The Apostle Paul saw this as hypocrisy and called it such to Peter’ s face( Galatians 2:11-14).
Later in life, Peter spent time with John Mark( 1 Peter 5:13), who wrote the gospel of Mark based on Peter’ s remembrances of his time with Jesus. Peter wrote two inspired epistles, 1 and 2 Peter, between A. D. 60 and 68. Jesus said that Peter would die a martyr’ s death( John 21:18-19)— a prophecy fulfilled, presumably, during Nero’ s reign. Tradition has it that Peter was crucified upside down in Rome, and, although such the story may be true, there is no scriptural or historical witness to the particulars of Peter’ s death.
What can we learn from Peter’ s life? Here are a few lessons:
Jesus overcomes fear. Whether stepping out of a boat onto a tossing sea or stepping across the threshold of a Gentile home for the first time, Peter found courage in following Christ.“ There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear”( 1 John 4:18).
Jesus forgives unfaithfulness. After he had boasted of his fidelity, Peter fervently denied the Lord three times. It seemed that Peter had burned his bridges, but Jesus lovingly rebuilt them and restored Peter to service. Peter was a former failure, but, with Jesus, failure is not the end.“ If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself”( 2 Timothy 2:13).
Jesus patiently teaches. Over and over, Peter needed correction, and the Lord gave it with patience, firmness, and love. The Master Teacher looks for students willing to learn.“ I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go”( Psalm 32:8).
Jesus sees us as He intends us to be. The very first time they met, Jesus called Simon“ Peter.” The rough and reckless fisherman was, in Jesus’ eyes, a firm and faithful rock.“ He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion”( Philippians 1:6).
Jesus uses unlikely heroes. Peter was a fisherman from Galilee, but Jesus called him to be a fisher of men( Luke 5:10). Because Peter was willing to leave all he had to follow Jesus, God used him in great ways. As Peter preached, people were amazed at his boldness because he was“ unschooled” and“ ordinary.” But then they took note that Peter“ had been with Jesus”( Acts 4:13).
Being with Jesus makes all the difference.
Jeremiah
30:17
9
' For I will restore you to health And I will heal you of your wounds,' declares the LORD, ' Because they have called you an outcast, saying: " It is Zion; no one cares for her."