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Jesus and the Twelve · The early church

Peter

Also called Simon, Simon Peter, and Cephas

Fisherman called as a disciple

33
Events
14
Places
7
Journeys

Editorial summary

A fisherman on the Sea of Galilee called by Jesus; at Caesarea Philippi he answered that Jesus was the Christ. In Acts he spoke for the apostles at Pentecost, healed and preached in Jerusalem, went to Samaria, Lydda and Joppa, preached at the house of Cornelius in Caesarea, and was freed from Herod’s prison.

Scripture

Journeys

7

Where their story unfolds

14

From: Bethsaida ()

Where they appear

33

  1. Walking on the water

    Jesus sent the disciples ahead by boat, and in the night he came to them walking on the sea. Peter began to walk toward him, started to sink, and was caught by Jesus’ hand.

  2. Peter’s confession

    In the region of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked his disciples who people said he was, and then who they said he was. Peter answered that he was the Christ.

  3. Jesus before Caiaphas

    Jesus was led to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and elders had gathered, and Peter followed at a distance into the court. When Jesus answered the high priest’s demand to say whether he was the Christ, the high priest said he had spoken blasphemy, and they declared him worthy of death.

  4. Calling the fishermen

    Walking beside the Sea of Galilee, Jesus called Simon and Andrew, then James and John, to follow him. They left their nets and their boat and went after him.

  5. Teaching with authority in Capernaum

    On the Sabbath Jesus taught in the synagogue at Capernaum. The people were astonished at his authority, especially when he commanded an unclean spirit to come out of a man.

  6. Peter’s mother-in-law healed

    Coming out of the synagogue in Capernaum, Jesus went with Simon, Andrew, James and John into the house of Simon and Andrew, where Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever. He took her by the hand and raised her up; the fever left her, and she served them.

  7. Appointing the Twelve

    Jesus went up into the mountain and appointed twelve to be with him and to be sent out to preach: Simon, whom he named Peter; James son of Zebedee and his brother John; Andrew; Philip; Bartholomew; Matthew; Thomas; James son of Alphaeus; Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot; and Judas Iscariot.

  8. Jairus’ daughter raised

    By the sea, Jairus, a synagogue ruler, begged Jesus to heal his dying daughter. On the way a woman who had bled for twelve years touched his clothes and was healed. Though the girl was reported dead, Jesus went to the house with Peter, James and John, took her by the hand, and she rose.

  9. The Last Supper

    On the first day of Unleavened Bread, disciples prepared the Passover in a large upper room in the city. As they ate, Jesus took bread and the cup, gave thanks and gave them to his disciples.

  10. Prayer and arrest in Gethsemane

    After the supper Jesus went to Gethsemane and prayed in deep distress while Peter, James and John slept. Judas arrived with an armed crowd and identified him with a kiss, and the disciples fled.

  11. Peter denies Jesus

    When Jesus was taken to the high priest’s house, Peter followed at a distance and sat by a fire in the courtyard. Three times people said he had been with Jesus, and three times he denied it. As a rooster crowed, the Lord turned and looked at Peter, and he went out and wept bitterly.

  12. The women report the empty tomb

    At dawn the women found the stone rolled away and the body gone, and two men in dazzling clothing told them he had risen. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James and others told the apostles, who did not believe them. Peter ran to the tomb and saw the linen strips lying by themselves.

  13. The first disciples follow Jesus

    The next day John looked at Jesus and called him the Lamb of God. Two of John’s disciples heard him, followed Jesus and stayed with him that day. One of them, Andrew, brought his brother Simon to Jesus, who said he would be called Cephas, that is, Peter.

  14. Jesus before Annas

    Jesus was bound and taken first to Annas, father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Let into the court, Peter told the maid at the door he was not one of Jesus’ disciples. The high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and teaching, an officer struck him, and Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas.

  15. Breakfast by the Sea of Tiberias

    Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, the sons of Zebedee and two other disciples fished all night and caught nothing. At dawn Jesus, unrecognized on the beach, told them where to cast the net, and it filled with fish. The disciple whom Jesus loved said it was the Lord, and Jesus gave them bread and fish.

  16. The ascension

    Acts says that as the apostles watched, Jesus was taken up and a cloud received him out of their sight. Two men in white clothing told them he would come back in the same way, and they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called Olivet.

  17. Praying in the upper room

    After the ascension the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the mountain called Olivet and went up to the upper room where they were staying. They continued steadfastly in prayer along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

  18. Matthias is chosen

    Peter told about 120 disciples that one of the men who had accompanied them from John’s baptism until Jesus was taken up must replace Judas as a witness of the resurrection. They put forward Joseph called Barsabbas and Matthias, prayed and drew lots; the lot fell on Matthias, who was counted with the eleven apostles.

  19. The Holy Spirit at Pentecost

    At Pentecost a sound like a mighty wind filled the house, and tongues like fire rested on each of them. Filled with the Holy Spirit, they spoke in other languages, which devout Jews from every nation heard as their own. Peter, standing with the Eleven, addressed the crowd, and about three thousand were baptized.

  20. A lame man healed at the temple

    At the hour of prayer a man lame from birth asked Peter and John for gifts at the temple door called Beautiful. Peter told him in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth to walk, and he went into the temple walking, leaping and praising God. In Solomon’s porch Peter spoke to the amazed crowd.

  21. Peter and John before the council

    As Peter and John spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple and the Sadducees arrested them. The next day, before the rulers, elders and scribes, with Annas and Caiaphas present, Peter said the man had been healed in the name of Jesus. The council threatened them and let them go.

  22. Ananias and Sapphira

    Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold land; with her knowledge he kept back part of the price and laid the rest at the apostles’ feet. Rebuked by Peter for lying to God, he fell down and died; about three hours later Sapphira repeated the claim and also died. Great fear came on the whole assembly.

  23. Signs and wonders in Solomon’s porch

    The apostles did many signs and wonders, and they were all together in Solomon’s porch. People carried the sick into the streets so that Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them, and crowds came from the cities around Jerusalem with the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

  24. The apostles freed and Gamaliel’s counsel

    The high priest and the Sadducees jailed the apostles, but an angel opened the prison by night, and at daybreak they were teaching in the temple. Before the council Peter and the apostles said they must obey God rather than men. Gamaliel, a Pharisee, advised leaving them alone, and they were beaten and released.

  25. Peter and John in Samaria

    Hearing that Samaria had received the word of God, the apostles in Jerusalem sent Peter and John, who prayed for the believers and laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. Simon offered money for this power, and Peter rebuked him. Peter and John then returned to Jerusalem, preaching in many Samaritan villages.

  26. Aeneas healed at Lydda

    Going throughout those parts, Peter came down to the saints at Lydda and found Aeneas, who had been bedridden and paralyzed for eight years. Peter told him that Jesus Christ healed him, and he got up at once; all who lived at Lydda and in Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

  27. Tabitha raised at Joppa

    Tabitha, also called Dorcas, a disciple at Joppa full of good works, died, and the disciples sent to nearby Lydda for Peter. He sent everyone out of the upper room, prayed and told her to get up, and she sat up; many in Joppa believed. Peter stayed there many days with Simon, a tanner.

  28. Peter’s vision on the housetop

    As Cornelius’ men neared Joppa, Peter went up on the housetop to pray and fell into a trance. He saw something like a great sheet let down from heaven, full of animals, and a voice told him not to call unclean what God has cleansed. The Spirit then told him to go with the men.

  29. Peter at the house of Cornelius

    Peter came to Caesarea, where Cornelius had gathered his relatives and near friends. Peter told them that God shows no favoritism and spoke of Jesus; while he was still speaking the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard, and Peter commanded that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

  30. Peter explains himself in Jerusalem

    When Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision objected that he had eaten with uncircumcised men. He told them about his vision at Joppa, the men sent from Caesarea and the Holy Spirit falling on those in the house. They fell silent and glorified God for granting the Gentiles repentance to life.

  31. Peter freed from prison

    King Herod killed James the brother of John and imprisoned Peter. On the night before Herod would bring him out, an angel led Peter out of the prison. He went to the house of Mary, mother of John Mark, where many were praying, and the servant girl Rhoda recognized his voice at the gate.

  32. The council at Jerusalem

    At Jerusalem some believing Pharisees said Gentile believers must be circumcised and keep the law of Moses. After Peter, Barnabas and Paul spoke, James judged that Gentiles turning to God should not be troubled, only asked to abstain from a few things. Judas called Barsabbas and Silas were chosen to carry the letter to Antioch.

  33. Fifteen days with Peter

    Paul writes that three years later he went up to Jerusalem to visit Peter and stayed with him fifteen days, seeing none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. He adds that before God he is not lying.

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