The Apostle Peter (Summary)

Simon Peter: Name, Calling, and Leadership Among the Twelve

So the Apostle we're going to be looking at this Sunday is the Apostle Peter. Originally, he was named Simon, or Simon the son of Jonah. But Jesus, as you probably know, obviously, right? He changed his name to Peter, which means rock.

So Peter is the rock. This nickname was to be a constant reminder of what he needed to be as he stood out as a leader amongst the twelve. Originally a fisherman, Peter became a follower of Christ along with his brother Andrew.

Peter is the most prominent Apostle in the four Gospels, also in the book of Acts, at least the first 12 chapters. Then the focus shifts to the Apostle Paul. Peter is a man that many people can identify with.

Why? Because he not only had great moments of achievement, he also had moments of failure. Most notable among them is when he denied the Lord three times. Peter, of course, repented of this and was restored, but this is the way he was.

He was often up one moment and down the next. But again, the reminder from Jesus was you need to be a rock, immovable. Peter was the first disciple to profess that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God, but he also had been called and has been called the disciple with the foot-shaped mouth because Peter was usually, Peter was usually the first one to speak up, but oftentimes the things that he said were, well, a little off-base sometimes.

But one thing that can't be denied, Peter loved the Lord so much so that he was willing to lay down his life for Christ and the gospel ministry, which he did. In John chapter 21, Jesus seems to indicate to Peter that when he's old, you too will die by crucifixion.

And according to church tradition, the Nero had Peter crucified sometime around 64 to 67 AD. And as the story goes, we're not sure if this part is true, but the story goes that Peter felt unworthy to die as his Lord, so he asked to be crucified upside down.

Peter’s Death, Peter’s Writings, and the Day of Pentecost

In conclusion, Peter wrote two books of the New Testament, the epistles of 1st and 2nd Peter, but he's probably most well known for his sermon on the day of Pentecost where afterwards 3 ,000 people came to saving faith in Jesus.

I'll close with this, Peter said in Acts 2, 38 through 40, repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call. And with many other words he testified and exhorted them saying, be saved from this perverse generation.

Then it says, those who gladly received his word were baptized, and that day about 3 ,000 souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the Apostles doctrine, in fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.