Peter
The Rock and Leader of the Apostles
Also known as: Simon, Simon Peter, Cephas, Simeon, Niger, Simon who was called Niger
Simon Peter was a fisherman called by Jesus to become a fisher of men. He was one of the three closest disciples, denied Jesus three times, but was restored and became a leader in the early church.
Family
Key events
The Calling at the Sea of Galilee
Jesus called Peter to become a fisher of men.
18As he was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
Περιπατῶν δὲ παρὰ τὴν θάλασσαν τῆς Γαλιλαίας εἶδεν δύο ἀδελφούς, Σίμωνα τὸν λεγόμενον Πέτρον καὶ Ἀνδρέαν τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ, βάλλοντας ἀμφίβληστρον εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν, ἦσαν γὰρ ἁλιεῖς·
19He said to them, "Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."
καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς· Δεῦτε ὀπίσω μου, καὶ ποιήσω ὑμᾶς ἁλιεῖς ἀνθρώπων.
20At once they left their nets and followed him.
οἱ δὲ εὐθέως ἀφέντες τὰ δίκτυα ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ.
The Confession at Caesarea Philippi
Peter confessed that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God.
15"But you," he said to them, "who do you say I am?"
λέγει αὐτοῖς· Ὑμεῖς δὲ τίνα με λέγετε εἶναι;
16Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ Σίμων Πέτρος εἶπεν· Σὺ εἶ ὁ χριστὸς ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ ζῶντος.
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·
18And I tell you: you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
κἀγὼ δέ σοι λέγω ὅτι σὺ εἶ Πέτρος, καὶ ἐπὶ ταύτῃ τῇ πέτρᾳ οἰκοδομήσω μου τὴν ἐκκλησίαν, καὶ πύλαι ᾅδου οὐ κατισχύσουσιν αὐτῆς·
19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
⸀δώσω σοι τὰς ⸀κλεῖδας τῆς βασιλείας τῶν οὐρανῶν, καὶ ὃ ⸀ἐὰν δήσῃς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἔσται δεδεμένον ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς, καὶ ὃ ⸁ἐὰν λύσῃς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἔσται λελυμένον ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς.
The Transfiguration on the Mount
Peter witnessed Jesus' transfiguration together with James and John.
1Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
Καὶ μεθʼ ἡμέρας ἓξ παραλαμβάνει ὁ Ἰησοῦς τὸν Πέτρον καὶ Ἰάκωβον καὶ Ἰωάννην τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀναφέρει αὐτοὺς εἰς ὄρος ὑψηλὸν κατʼ ἰδίαν.
2There he was transfigured before them: his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as the light.
καὶ μετεμορφώθη ἔμπροσθεν αὐτῶν, καὶ ἔλαμψεν τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ὡς ὁ ἥλιος, τὰ δὲ ἱμάτια αὐτοῦ ⸀ἐγένετο λευκὰ ὡς τὸ φῶς.
3And suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with him.
καὶ ἰδοὺ ⸀ὤφθη αὐτοῖς Μωϋσῆς καὶ Ἠλίας ⸂συλλαλοῦντες μετʼ αὐτοῦ⸃.
4Peter spoke up and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters here—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ Πέτρος εἶπεν τῷ Ἰησοῦ· Κύριε, καλόν ἐστιν ἡμᾶς ὧδε εἶναι· εἰ θέλεις, ⸀ποιήσω ὧδε τρεῖς σκηνάς, σοὶ μίαν καὶ Μωϋσεῖ μίαν καὶ ⸂Ἠλίᾳ μίαν⸃.
5While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him!"
ἔτι αὐτοῦ λαλοῦντος ἰδοὺ νεφέλη φωτεινὴ ἐπεσκίασεν αὐτούς, καὶ ἰδοὺ φωνὴ ἐκ τῆς νεφέλης λέγουσα· Οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ υἱός μου ὁ ἀγαπητός, ἐν ᾧ εὐδόκησα· ⸂ἀκούετε αὐτοῦ⸃.
The Denial
Peter denied Jesus three times before the rooster crowed.
69Meanwhile Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl came up to him and said, "You too were with Jesus of Galilee."
Ὁ δὲ Πέτρος ⸂ἐκάθητο ἔξω⸃ ἐν τῇ αὐλῇ· καὶ προσῆλθεν αὐτῷ μία παιδίσκη λέγουσα· Καὶ σὺ ἦσθα μετὰ Ἰησοῦ τοῦ Γαλιλαίου·
70But he denied it in front of them all: "I don't know what you're talking about."
ὁ δὲ ἠρνήσατο ⸀ἔμπροσθεν πάντων λέγων· Οὐκ οἶδα τί λέγεις.
71When he went out to the gateway, another woman saw him and said to those standing there, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth."
ἐξελθόντα ⸀δὲ εἰς τὸν πυλῶνα εἶδεν αὐτὸν ἄλλη καὶ λέγει ⸀τοῖς ἐκεῖ· ⸀Οὗτος ἦν μετὰ Ἰησοῦ τοῦ Ναζωραίου·
72Again he denied it with an oath: "I do not know the man."
καὶ πάλιν ἠρνήσατο μετὰ ὅρκου ὅτι Οὐκ οἶδα τὸν ἄνθρωπον.
73A little later those standing there came up to Peter and said, "You really are one of them; your accent gives you away."
μετὰ μικρὸν δὲ προσελθόντες οἱ ἑστῶτες εἶπον τῷ Πέτρῳ· Ἀληθῶς καὶ σὺ ἐξ αὐτῶν εἶ, καὶ γὰρ ἡ λαλιά σου δῆλόν σε ποιεῖ·
74Then he began to curse and swear, "I do not know the man!" And immediately a rooster crowed.
τότε ἤρξατο καταθεματίζειν καὶ ὀμνύειν ὅτι Οὐκ οἶδα τὸν ἄνθρωπον. καὶ ⸀εὐθέως ἀλέκτωρ ἐφώνησεν·
75Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly.
καὶ ἐμνήσθη ὁ Πέτρος τοῦ ⸀ῥήματος Ἰησοῦ ⸀εἰρηκότος ὅτι Πρὶν ἀλέκτορα φωνῆσαι τρὶς ἀπαρνήσῃ με, καὶ ἐξελθὼν ἔξω ἔκλαυσεν πικρῶς.
The Restoration
Jesus restored Peter by asking him three times if he loved 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.
Pentecost
Peter delivered the first Christian sermon on Pentecost.
14Then Peter stood up with the eleven, raised his voice, and addressed them: "Fellow Jews and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen carefully to my words.
Σταθεὶς δὲ ⸀ὁ Πέτρος σὺν τοῖς ἕνδεκα ἐπῆρεν τὴν φωνὴν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀπεφθέγξατο αὐτοῖς· Ἄνδρες Ἰουδαῖοι καὶ οἱ κατοικοῦντες Ἰερουσαλὴμ ⸀πάντες, τοῦτο ὑμῖν γνωστὸν ἔστω καὶ ἐνωτίσασθε τὰ ῥήματά μου.
36Therefore let all the house of Israel know beyond doubt: God has made him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified."
ἀσφαλῶς οὖν γινωσκέτω πᾶς οἶκος Ἰσραὴλ ὅτι καὶ κύριον ⸂αὐτὸν καὶ χριστὸν⸃ ⸂ἐποίησεν ὁ θεός⸃, τοῦτον τὸν Ἰησοῦν ὃν ὑμεῖς ἐσταυρώσατε.
37When they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"
Ἀκούσαντες δὲ κατενύγησαν ⸂τὴν καρδίαν⸃, εἶπόν τε πρὸς τὸν Πέτρον καὶ τοὺς λοιποὺς ἀποστόλους· Τί ⸀ποιήσωμεν, ἄνδρες ἀδελφοί;
38Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Πέτρος δὲ ⸂πρὸς αὐτούς· Μετανοήσατε⸃, καὶ βαπτισθήτω ἕκαστος ὑμῶν ⸀ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματι Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ εἰς ἄφεσιν ⸀τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ⸀ὑμῶν, καὶ λήμψεσθε τὴν δωρεὰν τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος·
41So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and about three thousand souls were added that day.
οἱ μὲν ⸀οὖν ἀποδεξάμενοι τὸν λόγον αὐτοῦ ἐβαπτίσθησαν, καὶ προσετέθησαν ⸀ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ψυχαὶ ὡσεὶ τρισχίλιαι.
Mentioned in the Bible (190)
Matthew 4:18Matthew 8:14Matthew 10:2Matthew 14:28Matthew 14:29Matthew 15:15Matthew 16:16Matthew 16:17Matthew 16:18Matthew 16:22Matthew 16:23Matthew 17:1Matthew 17:4Matthew 17:24Matthew 17:25Matthew 18:21Matthew 19:27Matthew 26:6Matthew 26:33Matthew 26:35Matthew 26:37Matthew 26:40Matthew 26:58Matthew 26:69Matthew 26:73Matthew 26:75Matthew 27:32Mark 1:16Mark 1:29Mark 1:36Mark 3:16Mark 3:18Mark 5:37Mark 6:3Mark 8:32Mark 8:33Mark 9:2Mark 9:5Mark 10:28Mark 11:21Mark 13:3Mark 14:3Mark 14:29Mark 14:33Mark 14:37Mark 14:54Mark 14:66Mark 14:67Mark 14:70Mark 14:72Mark 15:21Mark 16:8Luke 2:25Luke 2:28Luke 2:34Luke 3:30Luke 4:38Luke 5:3Luke 5:4Luke 5:5Luke 5:8Luke 5:10Luke 6:14Luke 6:15Luke 7:40Luke 7:43Luke 7:44Luke 8:45Luke 8:51Luke 9:28Luke 9:33Luke 12:41Luke 18:28Luke 22:8Luke 22:31Luke 22:33Luke 22:34Luke 22:55Luke 22:58Luke 22:60Luke 22:61Luke 23:26Luke 24:12Luke 24:34John 1:40John 1:41John 1:42John 1:44John 6:8John 6:68John 6:71John 13:2John 13:6John 13:8John 13:9John 13:24John 13:26John 13:36John 13:37John 18:10John 18:11John 18:15John 18:16John 18:17John 18:18John 18:25John 18:26John 18:27John 20:2John 20:3John 20:4John 20:6John 21:2John 21:3John 21:7John 21:11John 21:15John 21:16John 21:17John 21:19John 21:20John 21:21Acts 1:13Acts 1:15Acts 2:14Acts 2:37Acts 2:38Acts 3:1Acts 3:3Acts 3:4Acts 3:6Acts 3:11Acts 4:8Acts 4:13Acts 4:19Acts 5:3Acts 5:15Acts 5:29Acts 8:9Acts 8:13Acts 8:14Acts 8:18Acts 8:20Acts 8:24Acts 9:32Acts 9:34Acts 9:38Acts 9:39Acts 9:40Acts 9:43Acts 10:5Acts 10:6Acts 10:9Acts 10:13Acts 10:14Acts 10:17Acts 10:18Acts 10:19Acts 10:21Acts 10:25Acts 10:26Acts 10:32Acts 10:34Acts 10:44Acts 10:45Acts 10:46Acts 11:2Acts 11:4Acts 11:7Acts 11:13Acts 12:3Acts 12:6Acts 12:9Acts 12:11Acts 12:14Acts 12:16Acts 12:18Acts 13:1Acts 15:71 Corinthians 1:121 Corinthians 3:221 Corinthians 15:5Galatians 1:18Galatians 2:8Galatians 2:9Galatians 2:11Galatians 2:141 Peter 1:12 Peter 1:1Revelation 7:7