Peter - the Rock
Peter was a fisherman who became Jesus' closest disciple. Impulsive and passionate, he denied Jesus three times—but was restored and became a cornerstone of the early church. His life shows that God uses imperfect people.
The Call by the Sea
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.
4When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch."
ὡς δὲ ἐπαύσατο λαλῶν, εἶπεν πρὸς τὸν Σίμωνα· Ἐπανάγαγε εἰς τὸ βάθος καὶ χαλάσατε τὰ δίκτυα ὑμῶν εἰς ἄγραν.
5Simon answered, "Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing. But at your word I will let down the nets."
καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ⸀Σίμων ⸀εἶπεν· Ἐπιστάτα, διʼ ⸀ὅλης νυκτὸς κοπιάσαντες οὐδὲν ἐλάβομεν, ἐπὶ δὲ τῷ ῥήματί σου χαλάσω ⸂τὰ δίκτυα⸃.
8When Simon Peter saw it, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man."
ἰδὼν δὲ Σίμων Πέτρος προσέπεσεν τοῖς γόνασιν Ἰησοῦ λέγων· Ἔξελθε ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ, ὅτι ἀνὴρ ἁμαρτωλός εἰμι, κύριε·
10and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid. From now on you will be catching people."
ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ Ἰάκωβον καὶ Ἰωάννην υἱοὺς Ζεβεδαίου, οἳ ἦσαν κοινωνοὶ τῷ Σίμωνι. καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς τὸν Σίμωνα ⸀ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Μὴ φοβοῦ· ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν ἀνθρώπους ἔσῃ ζωγρῶν.
11So they brought their boats to shore, left everything behind, and followed him.
καὶ καταγαγόντες τὰ πλοῖα ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν ἀφέντες ⸀πάντα ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ.
The Confession
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 Fall
Peter denied Jesus three times, just as Jesus had predicted.
33Peter answered him, "Even if everyone else falls away on account of you, I never will."
ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ Πέτρος εἶπεν αὐτῷ· Εἰ πάντες σκανδαλισθήσονται ἐν σοί, ⸀ἐγὼ οὐδέποτε σκανδαλισθήσομαι.
34Jesus said to him, "Truly I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times."
ἔφη αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Ἀμὴν λέγω σοι ὅτι ἐν ταύτῃ τῇ νυκτὶ πρὶν ἀλέκτορα φωνῆσαι τρὶς ἀπαρνήσῃ με.
35Peter said to him, "Even if I must die with you, I will never deny you." And all the disciples said the same.
λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Πέτρος· Κἂν δέῃ με σὺν σοὶ ἀποθανεῖν, οὐ μή σε ⸀ἀπαρνήσομαι. ⸀ὁμοίως καὶ πάντες οἱ μαθηταὶ εἶπαν.
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.
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.
31"Simon, Simon, listen: Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat.
⸀Σίμων Σίμων, ἰδοὺ ὁ Σατανᾶς ἐξῃτήσατο ὑμᾶς τοῦ σινιάσαι ὡς τὸν σῖτον·
32But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
ἐγὼ δὲ ἐδεήθην περὶ σοῦ ἵνα μὴ ἐκλίπῃ ἡ πίστις σου· καὶ σύ ποτε ἐπιστρέψας ⸀στήρισον τοὺς ἀδελφούς σου.
Restoration
The risen Jesus restored Peter by the Sea of Galilee.
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.
18"Truly, truly, I tell you: when you were younger, you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go."
ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω σοι, ὅτε ἦς νεώτερος, ἐζώννυες σεαυτὸν καὶ περιεπάτεις ὅπου ἤθελες· ὅταν δὲ γηράσῃς, ἐκτενεῖς τὰς χεῖράς σου, καὶ ἄλλος ⸂σε ζώσει⸃ καὶ οἴσει ὅπου οὐ θέλεις.
19He said this to show by what kind of death Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me."
τοῦτο δὲ εἶπεν σημαίνων ποίῳ θανάτῳ δοξάσει τὸν θεόν. καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν λέγει αὐτῷ· Ἀκολούθει μοι.
Leader in the Early Church
Peter became a bold preacher and leader in the early church.
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.
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.
6But Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!"
εἶπεν δὲ Πέτρος· Ἀργύριον καὶ χρυσίον οὐχ ὑπάρχει μοι, ὃ δὲ ἔχω τοῦτό σοι δίδωμι· ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦ Ναζωραίου ⸀περιπάτει.
12When Peter saw this, he said to the people: "Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this? And why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?
ἰδὼν δὲ ⸀ὁ Πέτρος ἀπεκρίνατο πρὸς τὸν λαόν· Ἄνδρες Ἰσραηλῖται, τί θαυμάζετε ἐπὶ τούτῳ, ἢ ἡμῖν τί ἀτενίζετε ὡς ἰδίᾳ δυνάμει ἢ εὐσεβείᾳ πεποιηκόσιν τοῦ περιπατεῖν αὐτόν;
8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers of the people and elders,
τότε Πέτρος πλησθεὶς πνεύματος ἁγίου εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς· Ἄρχοντες τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ ⸀πρεσβύτεροι,
12And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν ἄλλῳ οὐδενὶ ἡ σωτηρία, ⸀οὐδὲ γὰρ ὄνομά ἐστιν ἕτερον ⸂ὑπὸ τὸν οὐρανὸν⸃ τὸ δεδομένον ἐν ἀνθρώποις ἐν ᾧ δεῖ σωθῆναι ἡμᾶς.
13When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated, ordinary men, they were amazed, and they recognized that these men had been with Jesus.
Θεωροῦντες δὲ τὴν τοῦ Πέτρου παρρησίαν καὶ Ἰωάννου καὶ καταλαβόμενοι ὅτι ἄνθρωποι ἀγράμματοί εἰσιν καὶ ἰδιῶται, ἐθαύμαζον, ἐπεγίνωσκόν τε αὐτοὺς ὅτι σὺν τῷ Ἰησοῦ ἦσαν,