Peter's Discipleship and Relationship with Jesus
Simon Peter, originally named Simon, was a fisherman from Bethsaida, on the Sea of Galilee [4, 5]. He was the son of Jona (or Jonas) and had a younger brother named Andrew, who introduced him to Jesus [4, 5]. Peter's life as a fisherman suggests he was not a mere laborer but likely owned a house in Capernaum, possibly a large one, as he hosted Jesus and others there [4].
Peter's discipleship began when Andrew brought him to Jesus [5]. Throughout the Gospels, Peter is consistently portrayed as a prominent figure among the disciples, often speaking on their behalf or being singled out by Jesus. His devotion to Jesus was deep, as evidenced by his protest when Jesus attempted to wash his feet, an act Peter initially refused because he felt unworthy [8]. However, Jesus explained that this cleansing was a condition for discipleship, leading Peter to request a full washing [8]. This interaction foreshadowed Jesus' greater act of sacrifice on the cross, indicating that receiving spiritual cleansing is fundamental to being a disciple [8].
Despite his devotion, Peter's discipleship was marked by moments of both strong faith and significant failure. He was among the disciples who followed Jesus to the high priest's court after Jesus' arrest [1]. However, while Jesus was being interrogated, Peter denied knowing him three times, even swearing an oath to emphasize his denial [6, 13]. This denial occurred after Peter had followed Jesus "afar off" into the palace, sitting with servants to observe the outcome [9, 10]. John Gill notes that Peter's denial, especially with an oath, was a profound failure, as he claimed not to know the man he had followed [6].
After Jesus' resurrection, Peter's relationship with Jesus was reaffirmed. The Gospel of John records a significant encounter where Jesus questioned Peter three times about his love, restoring him to ministry [11]. This event is often seen as a reversal of Peter's three denials. Peter also showed concern for the "disciple whom Jesus loved" (traditionally identified as John), asking Jesus about his future [2, 7, 11]. This disciple, who had leaned on Jesus' breast at the Last Supper, also followed Jesus to the high priest's court and was known to the high priest [1, 2]. John Chrysostom highlights that while John was the first to recognize Jesus after the resurrection, Peter was the first to come to Him, demonstrating his eagerness [12].
Peter's role as a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ is affirmed in his own writings, where he addresses believers who share a "like precious faith" in the righteousness of God and Savior, Jesus Christ [3]. His journey from a fisherman to a leading apostle, marked by both profound faith and human weakness, illustrates the transformative power of discipleship.
Sources
- John “Simon Peter followed Jesus, as did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered in with Jesus into the court of the high priest; -- John 18:15”
- John “Then Peter, turning around, saw a disciple following. This was the disciple whom Jesus sincerely loved, the one who had also leaned on Jesus’ breast at the supper and asked, “Lord, who is going to betray You?” -- John 21:20”
- 2 Peter “Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: -- 2 Peter 1:1”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Peter — (a rock or stone). The original name of this disciple was Simon, i.e. "hearer." He was the son of a man named Jonas, (Matthew 16:17; John 1:42; 21:16) and was brought up in his father's occupation, that of a fisherman. He and his brother Andrew were partners of John end James, the sons of Zebedee, who had hired servants. Peter did not live, as a mere laboring man, in a hut by the seaside, but first at Bethsaida, and afterward in a house at Capernaum belonging to himself or his mother-in-law, which must have been rather a large one, since he received in it not ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Peter — Originally called Simon (=Simeon, i.e., "hearing"), a very common Jewish name in the New Testament. He was the son of Jona (Matt. 16:17). His mother is nowhere named in Scripture. He had a younger brother called Andrew, who first brought him to Jesus (John 1:40-42). His native town was Bethsaida, on the western coast of the Sea of Galilee, to which also Philip belonged. Here he was brought up by the shores of the Sea of Galilee, and was trained to the occupation of a fisher. His father had probably died while he was still young, and he and his brother were br”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 26:71: And again he denied with an oath,.... He denied a second time, that he had ever been with Jesus, or was a disciple of his; and to put it out of all doubt, and an end to all dispute about it, and further charge of this kind, as he hoped, he annexed an oath to it: he swore by the God of truth; made a solemn appeal to the omniscient God, the searcher of hearts, that he was so far from being ever with Jesus of Nazareth, or a disciple of his, that, says he, I do not know the man: meaning not only that he had no personal knowledge of him, or acquaintance with him; but t”
- John (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on John 21:20: In these verses, we have, I. The conference Christ had with Peter concerning John, the beloved disciple, in which we have, 1. The eye Peter cast upon him (Joh 21:20): Peter, in obedience to his Master's orders, followed him, and turning about, pleased with the honours his Master now did him, he sees the disciple whom Jesus loved following likewise. Observe here, (1.) How John is described. He does not name himself, as thinking his own name not worthy to be preserved in these records; but gives such a description of himself as sufficiently informs us whom he meant, ”
- John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 13:8: 13:8 Based on the depth of his devotion to Jesus, it is understandable that Peter protested. But Jesus was not simply giving Peter a model of service; this was a symbolic pre-enactment of his greater act of sacrifice on the cross (13:7). Receiving Jesus’ spiritual cleansing is a condition for discipleship, so if Peter could not accept this act, he could not be Jesus’ disciple at all.”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 26:68: Now Peter sat without in the palace,.... Peter's denial of his Lord, the account of which follows, is related among the sufferings of Christ; and indeed, the ill usage he met with from his enemies, their spitting in his face, buffeting him with their fists, smiting him on the cheeks with their hands, and rods, did not give him so much pain and grief, as to be denied by his own disciple: we are before told, Mat 26:58, that Peter followed Christ afar off, and went into the high priest's palace, and sat with the servants there, to see what would be the end and issue of”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 26:57: But Peter followed him afar off,.... The Ethiopic version adds, alone; and which seems to be the true case; for though there was another disciple who also followed Jesus, and is thought to be John, yet it looks as if they followed him separately, and not together; for the other disciple went into the palace with Jesus, but Peter not till afterwards, being espied by his fellow disciple standing without. These two it seems, having a little recovered themselves from the fright they had been put into, stopped and turned back, and followed after Jesus, to see what would ”
- John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on John 21:20: Then Peter turning about,.... After he was risen, and was following Christ: seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following also; by whom is designed John the Evangelist, and writer of this Gospel; who hearing Christ bid Peter follow him, rose up likewise, and went after him, in token of his willingness to serve him, and suffer for him too: which also leaned on his breast at supper; at the "paschal supper", as the Persic version here reads it: "and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?" This disciple had a peculiar share in the love of Christ, as man, and was ”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on John & Hebrews: this account John first recognized Jesus, Peter first came to Him. 2595 2595 Ver. 7 . “Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher ’ s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.” N.T. For no ordinary signs were they which had taken place. What were they? First, that so many fish were caught; then, that the net did not break; 2596 2596 Ver. 11 . “Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred an”
- John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 18:16: 18:16-17 During Jesus’ interrogation by Annas (18:12-14, 19-24), the woman watching at the gate asked Peter if he was one of that man’s disciples. In contrast to Jesus, who stood up to his questioners and denied nothing, Peter quickly denied his link to Jesus three times (18:17, 25, 27).”