From Weakness to Strength: Simon Peter

Peter’s Role Among the Apostles

Peter appears in all four Gospels as one of the first disciples chosen by Jesus. He was present at nearly every major event in Jesus’ ministry, including events witnessed by only a select few, such as the Transfiguration.

He is generally regarded as the leader and spokesman of the apostles. Peter famously denied Christ three times, but after the resurrection, he reaffirmed his love for Jesus three times at the Sea of Galilee. That restoration becomes one of the central themes of Peter’s story.

Peter’s Ministry and Writings

After Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, Peter’s early missionary work took place in Jerusalem and Judea. He also traveled to Samaria, Joppa, and Caesarea Maritima, and may have gone north into Antioch in Syria.

Some scholars believe Peter traveled as far as Bithynia, in the northern part of modern-day Turkey near the Black Sea. Others believe he may have gone to Corinth. The final scriptural mention of Peter occurs at the Council of Jerusalem in the Book of Acts, around A.D. 50. After that, much of what we know comes from church tradition rather than verifiable Scripture.

Peter is credited with writing First and Second Peter, although some scholars question his authorship, particularly of Second Peter. The Gospel of Mark, written by John Mark, is widely believed to have drawn from Peter’s memories or teaching. In that sense, what we call the Gospel of Mark may also preserve Peter’s firsthand account.

Peter’s Death and Burial Traditions

Peter is believed to have been executed during Emperor Nero’s persecution of Christians in the A.D. 60s. Tradition holds that he was crucified upside down after telling his Roman captors that he was not worthy to die in the same manner as Jesus. Scripture does not confirm that detail, but it remains a longstanding church tradition.

The location of Peter’s final ministry and burial remains debated. First Peter ends with the words, “The church that is in Babylon, chosen together with you, salutes you, and so does my son Mark.” The meaning of Babylon has been interpreted in several ways. It may refer to the ancient city in Mesopotamia, to a location in Egypt, or symbolically to Rome.

Roman Catholic tradition holds that Peter was buried on what later became Vatican Hill and that St. Peter’s Basilica was built over his burial place. The Catholic Church also regards Peter as the first bishop of Rome. Subsequent popes wear a fisherman’s ring in recognition of Peter’s occupation and trace their authority to Jesus’ promise to Peter of “the keys of the kingdom of heaven.”

al evidence establishing whether Peter was ever in Rome. Excavations beneath St. Peter’s Basilica uncovered early burials, fragments of purple cloth, graffiti, and highly eroded bones believed to belong to a man around sixty years old. Pope Paul VI identified these remains as relics of St. Peter, although the identification remains debated.

Archaeological Questions

Another piece of evidence comes from Franciscan Father Bellarmino Bagatti, a Catholic monk and trained archaeologist. He participated in excavations in Jerusalem, Capernaum, and at the Church of Dominus Flevit on the Mount of Olives.

During work near Dominus Flevit, excavators opened a nearby burial cave containing first-century ossuaries, or bone boxes. Several had inscriptions. One identified Lazarus, another identified Mary and Martha, and another carried an Aramaic inscription reading “Simon Bar-Jonah.”

Simon and Jonah were common first-century names, so the inscription alone does not prove that the ossuary belonged to the apostle Peter. Still, the presence of names associated with the New Testament, along with early Christian symbols such as fish and crosses, has made the discovery a continuing subject of interest.

Capernaum also contains a site traditionally identified as Peter’s house. A modern church was built above the remains of a Byzantine octagonal church and an earlier structure. Graffiti and nearby pottery date the site to the first century A.D. If the tradition is correct, this would have been the home Jesus visited and the place where He healed Peter’s mother-in-law.

Archaeology gives us intriguing pieces of the story, but not a complete or conclusive account.

Peter Confesses Jesus as the Messiah | Mark 8

Jesus and His disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way He asked them, “Who do people say I am?”

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”

“But what about you?” He asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”
Jesus asked the disciples what the crowds were saying about Him. They offered several answers, but then Jesus turned the question directly to them: “Who do you say I am?”

The group was silent until Peter declared that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus commended Peter and explained that this insight had not come simply from personal observation. It had been revealed to him by God.

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial | Luke 22

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

But Peter replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with You to prison and to death.”

Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know Me.”

tion took place on Jesus’ final night before the crucifixion. Jesus told the disciples what was about to happen: He would be arrested, imprisoned, tortured, and crucified.

Peter was indignant. He insisted that Jesus would not face it alone and declared that he was willing to fight, go to prison, and even die with Him.

Jesus knew what Peter did not. Before the night was over, Peter would deny three times that he even knew Jesus.

Peter Denies Jesus | John 18

Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there, warming himself. So they asked him, “You aren’t one of His disciples too, are you?”

He denied it, saying, “I am not.”
One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with Him in the garden?”

Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.
Jesus had been taken to the house of the high priest Caiaphas for interrogation. Peter waited outside in the courtyard, where people began questioning him.
The people of Galilee apparently had a distinctive accent, much like a Southern drawl. Peter’s speech identified him as a Galilean, which caused others to suspect that he was one of Jesus’ followers.

Peter denied it three times. At the third denial, exactly as Jesus had predicted, the rooster crowed.

Jesus Restores Peter | John 21

When 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, “Feed My lambs.”

Again Jesus said, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.”

Jesus said, “Take care of My sheep.”
The third time He said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love Me?” He said, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”

Jesus said, “Feed My sheep.”After the resurrection, Jesus met the disciples at the Sea of Galilee. He drew Peter aside and carried out a deliberate restoration.

Three times, Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love Me?” The number was intentional. Peter had denied Jesus three times, and now he was given three opportunities to affirm his love.
Jesus then gave Pet

er his mission: “Feed My sheep.” Peter was being restored as a leader and called to become one of the shepherds of Christ’s people.

From Weakness to Strength

Regardless of one’s views regarding the papacy, most Christians find Peter to be one of the most relatable apostles. He was charismatic, confident, and quick to become the spokesman for the group. He was also rash and, at times, overconfident.

When soldiers came to arrest Jesus, Peter immediately drew a sword and cut off the ear of one of the men. Jesus healed the man. Peter then boasted that he would remain with Jesus through prison and even death, and he was offended when Jesus questioned his faithfulness.

After the crucifixion, Peter was devastated. Everything Jesus had predicted had happened, including Peter’s own denial. The news of the empty tomb began to draw him out of despair, and Jesus completed his restoration by asking him three times to affirm his love and accept responsibility for Christ’s people.
At Pentecost, filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter became one of the boldest advocates for Christ. Three thousand people heard him preach and were converted that day. The disciples had previously hidden in fear, expecting a knock at the door from the authorities. Peter now stood publicly in Jerusalem and proclaimed the gospel in the presence of the very leaders who had condemned Jesus.

Peter’s boldness came from both his restoration by Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. His story truly is one of movement from weakness to strength.

Looking Ahead

The next lesson will focus on Zacchaeus, a publican, or tax collector, in Jericho. Because the entire Scripture lesson takes place there, the study will also explore why Jericho remained such an important location from the time of Joshua through the first century A.D.

Audience Question

Question: Was it the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter that had portraits of all the popes around the top? When I visited about fifteen years ago, there seemed to be room for only two or three more portraits. Some people said that when the space was filled, Christ would return. Is that the same church?

Answer: I do not remember portraits being there. The Church of the Primacy of St. Peter is a very small church made from local basalt, which gives it a distinctive black exterior. Inside, near the altar, is a piece of exposed bedrock approximately eight to ten feet long and three to four feet wide. Tradition identifies it as the rock near which Jesus rested while the disciples prepared and ate fish.

Answer: The church you remember may have been the Church of St. Peter in Chains, which contains chains associated by tradition with Peter. That is a different location. I have always called the exposed rock at the Church of the Primacy “fish fry rock,” because that is essentially what the disciples were doing there.

Closing Prayer
Dear Lord,

We are all a bit like Simon Peter. We see ourselves as bold advocates for You, but when challenged by the world, we often retreat into silence.
Fill us with Your Spirit so that we may be the strong version of Peter and proclaim Your gospel and Your name to the world.
In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.