Apostolos
Glavenas
Peter was born in Bethsaida, close to
Lake Gennesaret, where, along with his brother Andrew, who also became an
Apostle, they plied the trade of fisherman, together with two other Apostles,
James and John, the sons of Zebedee.
In all the Gospel records he’s first mentioned as Simon, while in other books
of the New Testament he’s called Simeon. He’s also mentioned a good number of
times as Simon Peter, and also as Cephas.
It’s not clear in the New Testament exactly when Christ names him Simon Cephas,
i.e. rock or stone. According to Matthew (16, 18), this
naming occurred at the time of Peter’s confession to Philip in Caeasarea.
According to Mark (3, 16) and Luke (6, 14), the change
of name from Simon to Peter is mentioned at the beginning of the catalogue of
the twelve, i.e. when Jesus gathered together and completed the group of the
apostles. John (1, 42) puts the
matter somewhat differently: when Simon met Jesus for the first time
(introduced by his brother Andrew), Jesus told him that he’d be called Cephas,
which means rock.
His father is called both John and Jonah. Matthew (16,17), calls him
Simon, son of Jonah (Bar-Jonah). It’s likely that the name Jonah was a
simplification and abbreviation of John, while Bar-Jonah might, though not with
absolute certainty, be translated as “Son of John”.
There is also the view, that cannot be proven with any certainty, that the word
Barjona means terrorist, in which case Simon also acquires the epithet Zealot.
This view is reinforced by the fact that, on the evening when Jesus was
arrested by the Romans, Peter wielded a knife, a deadly weapon.
Peter lived in Capernaum, where his wife was from, having settled there after
his wedding. Nothing is said of his wife in the New Testament, but it’s known
that he was married because Christ healed his mother-in-law. It’s more than
likely that his wife was no longer alive when Christ called him to be an
apostle. Indeed, later, when he was on his apostolic missionary journeys, Peter
didn’t have his wife with him, but a Christian woman who looked after him (I
Cor. 9, 5).
Both his trade and the fact that the members of the Sanhedrin called both him
and John illiterate and simplistic (Acts 4, 13) demonstrate
that they hadn’t studied at a rabbinic school; it may be that he’d been a
disciple of the Forerunner.
His call to be an apostle happened gradually. First he was introduced to Christ
by his brother, Andrew. He was present, clearly, at the wedding in Cana and
immediately after this settled with Jesus and other disciples in Capernaum. His
call is recorded in the synoptic Gospels.
From the very first, Peter held a leading position in the circle of the
apostles. He’s always mentioned first in the list of the disciples in the New
Testament and was, with the brothers James and John, in the most intimate
circle of disciples for whom Christ showed a particular preference (e.g. the
raising of Jairus’ daughter; the Transfiguration; the prayer in the garden at
Gethsemene).
His character was that of an enthusiastic, impulsive person; he stood out for
his activeness and self-confidence; he took initiatives; he was quick to anger;
but also quick to lose heart.
Beneath the changeable and unstable character lay a sincere person who was
genuinely devoted to Christ and one who played a leading role at various times
(walking on the water; the miraculous tax payment; the infinite forgiveness of
others; the Transfiguration; the healing of the woman with an issue of blood;
Peter and John preparing the Passover; and Peter’s answer in the name of all
twelve apostles)
In Caesarea Philippi, shortly before the passion, Christ asked His disciples
what view people had concerning the Son of man. On behalf of all of them, Peter
answered that Christ is the Messiah, the Son of the true God. Christ then told
His disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Messiah. He did, however,
reveal to them that He would be going to Jerusalem, where He would be crucified
and would rise on the third day. Peter took Him aside and tried to persuade Him
to avoid this. Christ, however, bridled against these exhortations of Peter’s
and called him Satan.
In Passion Week: Peter refused, at first, to allow Jesus to wash his feet; he
was consumed by worry over learning who it was who would betray Jesus;
protested when Jesus told him that where He was going Peter couldn’t follow
then, but would do so later; and promised he was ready to lay down his life for
Christ. And yet, soon afterwards, he denied Him.
When the Lord prayed alone in the garden of Gethsemane and turned back only to
find them asleep, it was Peter whom he addressed.
At the time when Christ was being arrested, Peter drew a knife and cut off the
ear of Malchus, a servant of the High Priest. Christ reprimanded him. From this
event, some people have drawn the conclusion that Peter was a Sicarius (lit.
“dagger-man”) and belonged to the group of Zealots who actively opposed Roman
rule. This was the group to which Simon the Zealot and, perhaps, Judas
Iscariot, belonged.
When Jesus had been arrested, Peter recovered from the earlier commotion and
followed Him to the High Priest’s courtyard.
Peter was the first to confirm the event of the Resurrection and the first to
see the Risen Lord.
Information about the story of Peter after the Resurrection is scant and we
have no real sketch of the course of his life and no fixed point to use for
satisfactory dates. In the history of the Early Church, Peter again played a
leading role in the first action of an administrative nature by the Apostles,
when he recommended to a common assembly of the faithful that they should elect
a replacement for Judas Iscariot.
