Jonas/John (Peter's father)
The Apostle Peter's Father
Jonas (also called John) was the father of the apostle Peter and his brother Andrew. He was a fisherman from Bethsaida by the Sea of Galilee, and although he does not play a prominent role in the Gospels, he is known through references to Peter as 'Simon, son of Jonas/John'.
Family
Key events
Mentioned as Peter's father at the confession
When Peter confessed that Jesus was the Messiah, Jesus called him 'Simon, son of Jonas', confirming his father's name.
17Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.
⸂ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ⸃ ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Μακάριος εἶ, Σίμων Βαριωνᾶ, ὅτι σὰρξ καὶ αἷμα οὐκ ἀπεκάλυψέν σοι ἀλλʼ ὁ πατήρ μου ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς·
Jesus asks Peter about his love
By the Sea of Galilee after the resurrection, Jesus addresses Peter as 'Simon, son of John' three times when restoring him.
15When 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." Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs."
Ὅτε οὖν ἠρίστησαν λέγει τῷ Σίμωνι Πέτρῳ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Σίμων ⸀Ἰωάννου, ἀγαπᾷς με πλέον τούτων; λέγει αὐτῷ· Ναί, κύριε, σὺ οἶδας ὅτι φιλῶ σε. λέγει αὐτῷ· Βόσκε τὰ ἀρνία μου.
16A second time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Take care of my sheep."
λέγει αὐτῷ πάλιν δεύτερον· Σίμων ⸀Ἰωάννου, ἀγαπᾷς με; λέγει αὐτῷ· Ναί, κύριε, σὺ οἶδας ὅτι φιλῶ σε. λέγει αὐτῷ· Ποίμαινε τὰ πρόβατά μου.
17A third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved that Jesus asked him a third time, "Do you love me?" and he said, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.
λέγει αὐτῷ τὸ τρίτον· Σίμων ⸀Ἰωάννου, φιλεῖς με; ἐλυπήθη ὁ Πέτρος ὅτι εἶπεν αὐτῷ τὸ τρίτον· Φιλεῖς με; καὶ ⸀εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Κύριε, ⸂πάντα σὺ⸃ οἶδας, σὺ γινώσκεις ὅτι φιλῶ σε. λέγει αὐτῷ ⸀ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Βόσκε τὰ ⸀πρόβατά μου.
Peter's calling at the introduction
The Gospel of John identifies Simon Peter as the son of John when Andrew first brings him to Jesus.
42And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas"—which means Peter.
⸀ἤγαγεν αὐτὸν πρὸς τὸν Ἰησοῦν. ἐμβλέψας αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν· Σὺ εἶ Σίμων ὁ υἱὸς ⸀Ἰωάννου, σὺ κληθήσῃ Κηφᾶς (ὃ ἑρμηνεύεται Πέτρος).