Who was Peter in the Bible?

You can download this handout on the PRINTABLES PAGE of our website.

PETER

Imperfection Used by a Perfect Savior

Profile:

Peter was one of Jesus’ 12 Apostles. His life is a picture of how much a person can change when they have a true encounter with Jesus.

Birth:

Biblical history nor secular history record the details of Peter’s birth. It is estimated he was born a few years after Jesus, perhaps 1 AD.

Death:

Peter was killed for his faith in Jesus. It is thought he was martyred between 64-68 AD. Later historical writers propose he was crucified in Rome (See John 21:18, Clement, and Origen).

Life and Ministry:

Peter is the most well-known of Jesus’ 12 Apostles. When Jesus first met him, he was employed in the fishing business with his brother Andrew. The two brothers left everything and became students of Jesus, believing Him to be the long-awaited Messiah spoken by the Jewish prophets.

Peter spent three years listening and observing Jesus daily. Those years were marked by moments of great faith and moments of clear immaturity. Peter’s faith led him to walk on water with Jesus on the Sea of Galilee and to be the first to confess Jesus as the “Christ, the Son of the living God” (Mat 16:16). His immaturity and lack of understanding of Jesus’ ultimate plan earned him several strong rebukes from the Lord and brought about what was probably his biggest failure. Peter, out of fear and confusion, denied knowing Jesus 3 times on the night of His arrest.  

But Peter’s story had a happy ending. His friendship with Jesus was reconciled after the Lord’s resurrection and God used Peter in powerful ways over the next few decades. With the help of the Holy Spirit, he preached to the Jews on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) and was privileged to invite the Gentiles into God’s family in Acts 10. Peter’s work and leadership are highlighted in Acts 1-12. Two of His epistles to the early Church are preserved in the Bible (1 Peter and 2 Peter).