# Who was Peter in the Bible?

Peter was a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee named Simon, whom Jesus called to follow him and renamed Peter, “rock”. He was quick to speak, walked on the water and sank, confessed Jesus as the Messiah, and denied him three times the night of his arrest. After the resurrection Jesus restored him, and Peter preached at Pentecost and led the church in Jerusalem.

- When: Called about AD 28. He was alive into the 60s AD.
- Read: The Gospels, Acts 1–12 and 15, 1 and 2 Peter. Start with [Luke 5](https://www.lumin.faith/read/luke/5).

Source: https://www.lumin.faith/bible-people/peter. Scripture quotations are from the Lumin Translation.

## Peter’s life, in order

1. **Fishers of people** ([Luke 5:1-11](https://www.lumin.faith/read/luke/5#1-11)). After a night of catching nothing, Simon lets down his nets at Jesus’ word. He leaves everything to follow. Map: [The Sea of Galilee](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-map#sea-of-galilee).
2. **His mother-in-law** ([Mark 1:29-31](https://www.lumin.faith/read/mark/1#29-31)). Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law in his house at Capernaum. Map: [Capernaum](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-map#capernaum).
3. **On the water** ([Matthew 14:25-33](https://www.lumin.faith/read/matthew/14#25-33)). Peter steps out of the boat toward Jesus, sees the wind, and starts to sink. Jesus catches him. Map: [The Sea of Galilee](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-map#sea-of-galilee).
4. **“You are the Messiah”** ([Matthew 16:13-19](https://www.lumin.faith/read/matthew/16#13-19)). Peter says Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus calls him the rock he will build his church on. Map: [Caesarea Philippi](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-map#caesarea-philippi).
5. **Three denials** ([Luke 22:54-62](https://www.lumin.faith/read/luke/22#54-62)). The night Jesus is arrested, Peter says three times he does not know him. The rooster crows, and he weeps. Map: [Jerusalem](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-map#jerusalem).
6. **“Do you love me?”** ([John 21:15-19](https://www.lumin.faith/read/john/21#15-19)). By the lake, the risen Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him, and gives him his work back: “Feed my sheep.” Map: [The Sea of Galilee](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-map#sea-of-galilee).
7. **Pentecost** ([Acts 2:14-41](https://www.lumin.faith/read/acts/2#14-41)). Peter preaches in Jerusalem, and about 3,000 people are baptized. Map: [Jerusalem](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-map#jerusalem).
8. **The vision at Joppa** ([Acts 10:9-48](https://www.lumin.faith/read/acts/10#9-48)). God shows Peter he must not call any person unclean. He goes to the Roman officer Cornelius at Caesarea, and Gentiles receive the Spirit. Map: [Caesarea](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-map#caesarea).

## Key verses

> Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” ([Matthew 16:16](https://www.lumin.faith/read/matthew/16#16))

> Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life… ([John 6:68](https://www.lumin.faith/read/john/6#68))

> Throw every worry you have onto him, because he cares about you. ([1 Peter 5:7](https://www.lumin.faith/read/1-peter/5#7))

## What the Bible says, and what tradition adds

### How did Peter die?

**Tradition, not the Bible.** Jesus hinted at the kind of death Peter would die. Early Christian writers say he was crucified in Rome under Nero, about AD 64 to 68, and later tradition adds that he asked to be crucified upside down. The Bible does not describe his death. See [John 21:18-19](https://www.lumin.faith/read/john/21#18-19).

### Was Peter the first pope?

**Readers disagree.** The Catholic Church teaches that Jesus made Peter the head of the church and that the bishops of Rome follow him. Orthodox and Protestant Christians read Matthew 16 differently, and the word “pope” is not in the Bible. See [Matthew 16:18](https://www.lumin.faith/read/matthew/16#18).

### Was Peter married?

**In the Bible.** Yes. Jesus healed his mother-in-law, and Paul says Peter took his wife with him on his travels. See [1 Corinthians 9:5](https://www.lumin.faith/read/1-corinthians/9#5).

### Did Peter write 1 and 2 Peter?

**Readers disagree.** Both letters name him as the writer, and the church has long accepted them. Many scholars doubt that Peter wrote 2 Peter, and some doubt 1 Peter.

## Related people

- [Paul](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-people/paul): Persecutor turned apostle. Wrote much of the New Testament.
- [Mary Magdalene](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-people/mary-magdalene): Healed by Jesus. First to see him risen.
- [John the Baptist](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-people/john-the-baptist): Prepared the way. Baptized Jesus in the Jordan.