Simon Peter

Simon Peter is one of the twelve apostles of Jesus in The Urantia Book, the second to be chosen, after his brother Andrew 137:1.1-3. A fisherman of Bethsaida near Capernaum 139:2.1, he was one of the three personal companions of Jesus 138:10.3 and became, “increasingly and by common consent, the spokesman for the twelve” 157:4.2. The book calls him “the outstanding preacher of the twelve,” who “did more than any other one man, aside from Paul, to establish the kingdom” 139:2.9. It also calls him “one of the most inexplicable combinations of courage and cowardice that ever lived on earth” 139:2.6.

Background and call

When Simon joined the apostles he was thirty, married, with three children. He lived at Bethsaida with his brother Andrew and his wife’s mother, and the brothers were fishing partners of the sons of Zebedee 139:2.1. An elder sister, Martha, later served in the women’s corps 150:1.1. His fishing boat had been built by Jesus himself 145:1.1.

Before he followed Jesus, Simon was “one of John’s foremost disciples” and among John the Baptist’s chief supporters 137:1.2. After Andrew pledged himself to Jesus at John’s camp near Pella in February A.D. 26, he urged Simon to do the same. Simon replied, “Ever since this man came to work in Zebedee’s shop, I have believed he was sent by God, but what about John?” The brothers consulted John, who released them 137:0.1 137:1.3. The book’s account follows John’s Gospel, where Andrew brings Simon to Jesus Jn 1:40-42, more than the Synoptic scene of a call from the boats Mt 4:18-20; Mk 1:16-18.

Jesus gave him the name Peter “with a smile; it was to be a sort of nickname,” because Simon was known to his friends as “an erratic and impulsive fellow.” Only later did Jesus give the name a deeper meaning 139:2.2 Jn 1:42; Mt 16:18.

Among the twelve

At the organization of the twelve, Peter, James and John were made Jesus’ personal companions, to attend him “day and night” and go with him on his vigils of prayer 138:10.3. Peter chose Simon Zelotes to join the twelve 138:2.8. Peter’s wife, Perpetua, and her mother kept house at Zebedee’s home, where the group had its headquarters 145:2.15 163:7.3.

The book retells several Gospel episodes about Peter with a different explanation:

• His mother-in-law’s fever. In the Gospels, Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law at once Mk 1:30-31; Lk 4:38-39. The book names her as Amatha and says she was not cured then, but hours later, in the mass healing at sundown 145:2.16.
• The catch of fish. Luke’s great catch Lk 5:4-11 is told in the book as Jesus’ fishing expertise, “in no sense a miraculous draught of fishes” 145:1.3.
• Walking on the water. In Matthew, Peter steps out of the boat toward Jesus Mt 14:24-31. In the book, an exhausted Peter fell asleep in the stern, dreamed that Jesus came walking on the sea, and stepped overboard in his sleep until the others pulled him out. “To Peter this experience was always real.” Mark, the book says, left part of the story out, and Luke left it out entirely as a vision 152:4.2-4.

The confession

At Caesarea-Philippi in August A.D. 29, Jesus asked the twelve, “But who say you that I am?” Simon Peter sprang to his feet and answered, “You are the Deliverer, the Son of the living God,” and the others stood to show that he spoke for them all 157:3.5 Mt 16:15-16; Mk 8:29; Lk 9:20. The book calls him “the first one of the apostles to make wholehearted confession of Jesus’ combined humanity and divinity” 139:2.8.

The book’s version of Jesus’ reply differs from Matthew’s Mt 16:18-19. Jesus says: “Upon this rock of spiritual reality will I build the living temple of spiritual fellowship.” He gives the twelve together “the keys of the outward kingdom,” which the book defines as authority over the social and economic affairs of the brotherhood 157:4.5. The “rock” is the spiritual reality behind the confession, not Peter himself.

Peter, James and John alone went with Jesus up Mount Hermon on 15 August A.D. 29, where they saw the transfiguration 158:1.1 158:1.8. Peter offered to build three tents. The book says he “erroneously conjectured” that the two shining figures were Moses and Elijah, when they were really Gabriel and the Father Melchizedek 158:1.8-9 Mt 17:3-4; Mk 9:5; Lk 9:33. Days later, when Jesus spoke of his coming death, Peter laid a hand on his shoulder to protest, and Jesus answered, “Get you behind me” 158:7.3-4 Mt 16:23; Mk 8:33. The Gospels place this rebuke just after the confession and before the transfiguration Mt 16:21-23. The book places it after the descent from the mountain.

The last night

At the Last Supper Peter at first refused to let Jesus wash his feet, then gave way 179:3.3 179:3.5 Jn 13:6-9. The book cites this swing between extremes as typical of him 139:2.6. When the high priest’s bodyguard Malchus moved to bind Jesus in Gethsemane, Peter drew his sword. Jesus stopped him: “Peter, put up your sword. They who take the sword shall perish by the sword” 183:3.7 Mt 26:51-52; Jn 18:10-11.

Peter then followed the arresting party “afar off” 183:3.10 Mt 26:58. He threw his sword away before entering the courtyard of Annas, and there, by a charcoal fire, he denied his Master to a gatekeeper, to a servant and to others 184:2.3-8. When the cock crowed he remembered Jesus’ warning, and afterward he “sat down by the side of the road and wept bitterly” 184:2.8-9 Mt 26:74-75; Lk 22:60-62. The book departs from the Gospels on the setting. Peter’s whole experience, it says, took place in Annas’s courtyard on Mount Olivet, not at the palace of Caiaphas. The rooster is its evidence: keeping poultry inside Jerusalem was against the law 184:2.10. Peter “never fully believed that he could be forgiven” until he met the risen Jesus 184:2.13.

Resurrection and Pentecost

When the women reported the empty tomb, Peter and John ran to it. John arrived first, and Peter went in first 189:5.2 Lk 24:12; Jn 20:3-8. That evening, alone in the garden of the Mark home, he received the eighth morontia appearance. Jesus told him, “I knew it was not from the heart that you disowned me; therefore I forgave you even before you asked” 191:1.1-2 Lk 24:34; 1 Co 15:5. Peter rushed in to tell the others, “I have seen the Master; he was in the garden. I talked with him, and he has forgiven me,” but Andrew warned them that his brother had seen things that were not real before 191:1.4-5.

By the Sea of Galilee, Peter knelt before the risen Jesus on the beach. The charcoal fire reminded him of the fire in Annas’s courtyard 192:1.6. Then, as in John’s Gospel, Jesus asked him three times, “Peter, do you love me?” and charged him to feed his lambs and sheep 192:2.2-4 Jn 21:15-17.

After the ascension Peter called the disciples together and reported Jesus’ farewell 193:6.1-2. At Pentecost he preached at the temple and won more than two thousand converts, whom he and other apostles baptized at the pool of Siloam 194:1.2 194:1.4 Acts 2:14-41. The book regrets the content of that preaching. In its view the apostles replaced the gospel of the kingdom with the fact of the resurrection 194:0.3 194:2.9. Peter in particular “persisted in making the mistake of trying to convince the Jews that Jesus was, after all, really and truly the Jewish Messiah” 139:2.13, and Nathaniel broke with him over preaching about Jesus instead of the gospel 193:6.4.

Later life and death

Peter was the first apostle to defend Philip’s work among the Samaritans and Paul’s among the gentiles, though at Antioch he later withdrew under pressure from Judaizers and was denounced by Paul 139:2.7 Acts 8:14-25; Ga 2:11-14. He traveled widely, “visiting all the churches from Babylon to Corinth,” and in later years worked in harmony with Paul despite their differences 139:2.11. The book attributes the Gospel of Mark to his influence, calling it “in reality the Gospel according to Simon Peter” 121:8.3. It says his vigorous style shows best in the First Epistle of Peter, “at least this was true before it was subsequently altered by a disciple of Paul” 139:2.12.

His wife went with him on all his journeys after he was driven from Jerusalem. On the day he died, she was thrown to the wild beasts in the arena at Rome 139:2.14. Peter himself was told he must die as his Master had died, and “regarded himself as the recipient of high honors.” He was crucified in Rome 139:2.15, in A.D. 67 121:8.3.

Personality and appearance

The book describes Peter’s temperament at length and his looks not at all. Its only physical detail is that his speech gave him away as a Galilean 184:2.7. Its sketch of his character:

• He was “a man of impulse, an optimist,” constantly in trouble “because he persisted in speaking without thinking.” He learned to talk his plans over with Andrew before making them public 139:2.3.
• He was “a fluent speaker, eloquent and dramatic,” a natural leader, “a quick thinker but not a deep reasoner.” He asked more questions than all the other apostles put together 139:2.4.
• What he most admired in Jesus was “his supernal tenderness,” and he never forgot the teaching on forgiving “seventy times and seven” 139:2.5.
• His great strength was loyalty. “Peter really and truly loved Jesus,” and his “faults were of the head and not of the heart.” He could withstand direct attack, but “he withered and shrank before ridicule” 139:2.6.

In following Jesus, literally and figuratively, he was either leading the procession or else trailing behind—“following afar off.”139:2.9

Index of references

Simon's name changed from Simon to Peter by Jesus, signifying a new beginning and transformation in his role as a disciple. 137:1.3 139:2.2

Family

• Martha, the elder sister of Andrew and Peter, was one of the ten women selected and commissioned by Jesus for the ministering work of the kingdom. 139:2.1 150:1.1
• Simon Peter, married with 3 children, joined the apostles at thirty years of age in A.D. 26, residing in Bethsaida near Capernaum with his brother Andrew and wife's mother, partnering in fishing with the sons of Zebedee. 139:2.1
• Simon Peter, fisher partner of Andrew, sons of Zebedee, was born in Capernaum and lived near his brother Andrew. 139:1.1 139:2.1 139:3.1
• John Zebedee was a key supporter of Simon Peter in the early days of the Christian movement. 139:4.11

Jesus

• Simon Peter, one of John the Baptist’s foremost disciples who knew Jesus in Capernaum, became the second apostle after Andrew. 137:1.1-3
• Gadiah and Peter had a memorable argument at Dorcas' home, ultimately influencing Simon's decision to embrace Christianity. 130:1.3
• Peter selected Simon Zelotes, a former Zealot high officer turned apostle. 138:2.8
• Simon Peter witnessed Jesus calm a violent storm on the Sea of Galilee, solidifying his faith in the Master's power over nature. 151:5
• Simon Peter's dream delivered him from fear of uncleanness. 153:3.6
• At the transfiguration, only Peter, James, and John shared a unique experience with Jesus because none of the twelve apostles were spiritually qualified for the revelation. 158:0.2 158:2.5
• Simon Peter, armed with sword, remained composed and watchful during Jesus' final days in Jerusalem. 171:4.1 172:0.3 172:2.1 172:5.2
• Peter and Andrew fetched Simon Zelotes at Jesus' direction before taking leave of them. 192:1.11
• Asleep in Gethsemane, Peter, James, and John failed to watch and pray with Jesus during his time of need. 182:3.1-4
• Simon Peter collected a donkey for Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, fulfilling a symbolic appeal to demonstrate that His kingdom was not of this world. 172:3.6
• Simon Peter, in protest against the pride of his brethren, took the lowest seat at the Remembrance Supper, hoping for Jesus to call him up to a higher one. 179:1.4
• Jesus, knowing Simon Peter's vacillating nature, washed his feet in a powerful act of love and humility. 139:2.6 179:3
• Jesus asked Peter three times, “Do you love me?” and instructed him to care for his sheep, be a shepherd, and follow after him. 192:2.2-5
• Simon Peter received admonitions to establish himself on spiritual foundations and not trust in worldly things. 174:0.2 181:2.27-30 192:2.2-5
• Simon Peter denied Jesus three times in Annas's courtyard before the cock crowed, leading to deep remorse and realization of his betrayal. 184:2
• Simon Peter was accused by Annas’s portress as he denied any connection with Jesus in the courtyard of the palace. 184:2.1-8
• At the empty tomb, Peter and John pondered the miraculous events they had witnessed, struggling to fully comprehend the resurrection of Jesus. 189:5
• Forgiven for his denial, Simon Peter saw the risen Master and rushed to share the good news with his fellow apostles. 191:1.1-4
• Peter's faith began to surmount his doubts at Jesus' appearances, leading him to boldly declare his belief in the resurrection and his determination to spread the good news to others. (191:1.2,5) 192:1-4 (193:0.3,5)
• After the message after resurrection, Peter vacillated emotionally between faith and doubt concerning the Master's resurrection. 189:4.12-13 191:0.4
• Jesus gave special instructions to Simon Peter, James, and John, to help clarify the new spiritual teachings for the other apostles. 140:8.1
• Simon Peter promised to pay the temple tax on behalf of Jesus. 157:1.1
• Simon Peter rushed impetuously towards Jesus, declaring “these things shall never happen to you”, prompting Jesus to protest by saying, “Get you behind me.” 158:7
• Questions of forgiveness and discipleship perplex Simon Peter as he seeks guidance from Jesus. 155:4.2 158:2.2 159:1.4 163:3.2-4 165:6.1 174:1.1 176:1.6 192:2.5
• Simon Peter recited the parable of Lazarus and Dives to the noisy crowd, urging them to heed its lessons until they comprehend the new light of the kingdom of heaven. 169:3
• Simon Peter rushed forward with sword to smite Malchus in defense of Jesus. 183:2.2 183:3.7
• Simon Peter preached sermons on “The Kingdom” and “Aaron and the Golden Calf,” while Jesus taught on “The Will of the Father in Heaven.” 145:2.1 146:1.1
• Simon Peter once surmised that the scribe of Damascus might have been Jesus, but quickly dismissed the idea, aware that the Master had never been in Rome. 132:0.10

Personal traits and attitudes

• The waiting period proved challenging for Simon Peter as he urged Jesus to start preaching in Galilee, while John preached in Judea, but Jesus advised patience and progress, with Andrew offering calming and philosophical support. 137:7.3
• Simon Peter attempted to dissuade Norana from waiting for the resting Master to heal her daughter. 156:1.3
• Simon Peter was confused and saddened by Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, feeling disappointed and unable to understand why the Master did not speak to the multitude or permit preaching. 172:5.3
• Peter was the first apostle to defend Philip's work among Samaritans and Paul's among gentiles, but later reversed himself at Antioch, causing a confrontation with Paul. 139:2.7
• Peter denied Jesus, couldn't believe himself forgiven, despite admiring Jesus' supernal tenderness and forgiveness taught seventy times seven. 139:2.5 181:2.29 184:2
• Peter was an eloquent leader and quick thinker, but not a deep reasoner, known for his quick decisions and sudden actions. 139:2.4
• Peter's erratic, impulsive, enthusiastic personality made him a loyal but often unthinking disciple of Jesus. 137:1.3 (139:2.2,3,6) 155:3.2 158:2.2 191:5.1 192:1.3
• Simon Peter remained estranged from Abner throughout the turbulent disagreements within the early Christian church. 166:5.4-5
• Simon Peter's vacillating nature stemmed from his struggles with loyalty under ridicule, yet his faults were of the head, not the heart. 139:2.6
• Simon Peter favored proclaiming Jesus king, amidst a plot hatched by the young evangelist Joab. 152:2.5
• Simon Peter, the outstanding preacher of the twelve, followed afar off behind the mob leading Jesus back to Jerusalem. 139:2.9 183:3.10 184:2.1
• Simon Peter's presumptuous self-confidence caused trouble for himself and his friends, despite his impulsive nature and optimistic outlook on life. 139:2.3 181:2.27
• Simon Peter, a perplexing blend of bravery and cowardice, crumbled under ridicule despite his deep love and loyalty to Jesus. 139:2.6 184:2.8
• Throughout resurrection Sunday, Peter vacillated between faith and doubt, but ultimately found solace in encountering the risen Master in the garden. 191:0.4 191:1

Position and achievements

• Peter, James, and John were appointed as personal aides to Jesus, to attend him day and night and minister to his needs. 138:10.3 139:4.3
• Simon Peter, the chief preacher and recognized head of Jesus' apostles, naturally assumed and held his position by common consent. 157:4.2 192:0.2
• The choosing and holding of Simon Peter as an apostle was the paramount factor in the rapid spread of Christianity. 132:0.6
• Simon Peter was the first to confess Jesus' divinity in Caesarea-Philippi. 157:3-5 179:3.2
• Peter laid hands on converts receiving Spirit of Truth, while Philip deferred to him in new situations. 139:5.9
• Peter's night vision on the Sea of Galilee inspired him to have faith and act with courage in the face of doubt. 139:2.4 152:4 191:1.5
• Simon Peter delivered the ordination sermon to the seventy, emphasizing consecrated devotion, true courage, faith and trust, zeal and initiative, kindness and courtesy, and ministry to the sick. 163:4.9-15
• Peter founded and organized the Christian church. 92:6.18 194:4.12 195:0.1
• Simon Peter, after finding himself and being forgiven by Jesus, became a great and saving light to thousands. 139:2.9-10
• Peter led the diverse school of evangelists in teaching and learning, fostering individual interpretations of the gospel of the kingdom. 148:0.3 148:1.1-4 163:0.2
• Peter unintentionally inaugurated a new religion of the risen Christ, transforming the gospel of the kingdom into Christianity based on Paul's theologic views. 192:4.7-8 194:0.3 196:2.1
• Peter was a much more effective preacher than Jesus, who was a teacher of man's spirit through the mind. 141:3.2 141:7.10 172:5.3

Writings

• Peter's original teachings and style can be glimpsed in Luke's sermons and Mark's Gospel, but the First Epistle was altered by a disciple of Paul. 139:2.12
• Simon Peter instigated the Gospel by Mark. 121:8.3

Work after Jesus

• Peter calculated that one thousand believers could have been baptized, but Jesus decided not to return to Capernaum. 145:5.10
• On April 29, Peter preached to 500 in Bethsaida, convincing many that the Master had risen. 192:4.2
• Peter, through his energetic preaching at Pentecost, won over 2000 souls, a testament to the influence he had on those around him. 139:1.6 193:6 194:1
• Simon Peter experienced deliverance by a secondary midwayer after Herod killed James. 77:8.12
• Cornelius became a believer through Peter's ministry, just as Anaxand and his superior sought Jesus' advice and later became prominent members of the church founded by Philip. 130:2.5
• Peter worked harmoniously with Paul, defending their work among Samaritans and gentiles, but later reversed himself under pressure from Judaizers and faced the fearless denunciation of Paul. (139:2.7,11)
• Abner, head of a church in Jerusalem, was isolated for defying James and later supported by Peter, before ultimately denouncing Paul. 166:5.5
• Descendants of Simon Peter persecuted by Christians suffer unjustly for their faith. 175:2.2

End

• Peter's wife Perpetua, thrown to wild beasts after he was crucified in Rome, labored alongside him on his missionary journeys, embodying his teachings of liberation from darkness. 132:4.7 139:2.14-15

> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Peter

Bible parallels

Passages that the paragraphs cited above parallel, quote or reinterpret, from Duane Faw’s Paramony cross-references. Hover a reference to read it.

• Simon Peter selected 137:1.3 — Mt 4:18-20; Mk 1:16-18; Lk 5:1-9; Jn 1:41-42.
• Andrew presents Simon 139:2.2 — Jn 1:40-42.
• Second apostle 139:2.2 — Mt 10:2; Jn 1:40-42.
• Simon re-named Peter 139:2.2 — Mk 3:13; Lk 6:14; Jn 1:42.
• New significance 139:2.2 — Mt 16:18.
• Simon joins apostles 139:2.1 — Mt 4:18-20; Mk 1:16-18; Lk 5:1-11; Jn 1:40-42.
• Simon's wife & mother-in-law 139:2.1 — Mt 8:14; Mk 1:30; Lk 4:38.
• Fishing partners 139:2.1 — Mk 1:16; Lk 5:10.
• The Women's Corps 150:1.1 — Lk 8:2-3.
• Andrew 139:1.1 — Mt 4:18; Mk 1:16; Jn 1:40.
• James Zebedee 139:3.1 — Mt 4:21-22; Mk 1:19-20; Lk 5:10.
• Sons of thunder 139:3.1 — Mk 3:17.
• Andrew selected 137:1.1 — Mt 4:18-20; Mk 1:16-18; Jn 1:40.
• Dorcas' house in Joppa 130:1.3 — Acts 9:36-42.
• Simon the tanner's conversion 130:1.3 — Acts 9:43.
• Peter's vivid dream 153:3.6 — Acts 10:9-16.
• Three who share experience 158:0.2 — Mt 17:1; Mk 9:2a; Lk 9:28.
• The plot 172:0.3 — Jn 11:57.
• Many people there to see Jesus 172:0.3 — Jn 12:9.
• First Gethsemane prayer 182:3.1 — Mt 26:36-39; Mk 14:32-36; Lk 22:41-42.
• Apostles sent for colt 172:3.6 — Mt 21:1-3; Mk 11:1-3; Lk 19:29-31.
• Apostles retrieve colt 172:3.6 — Mt 21:6-7a; Mk 11:6-7a; Lk 19:32-35a.
• Apostles dispute over honors 179:1.4 — Lk 9:46; Lk 22:24.
• Peter's vacillation 139:2.6 — Jn 13:8-9.
• Peter's denial 139:2.6 — Mt 26:69-75; Mk 14:66-72; Lk 22:55-62; Jn 18:17,25-27.
• Feed my lambs 192:2.2 — Jn 21:15.
• God is no respecter of persons 192:2.2 — 2 Ch 19:7; Job 34:19; Sir 35:12; Acts 10:34; Ro 2:11; Ga 2:6; Ga 3:28; Eph 6:9; Col 3:11.
• Be not dismayed by future events 174:0.2 — Is 41:10; Jer 46:27.
• Trust not the arm of flesh 174:0.2 — 2 Ch 32:8.
• Foundations of rock 174:0.2 — Mt 16:18.

Where it appears

Simon Peter is linked in 50 paragraphs of the text; the first 40 are listed.

See also

• apostles of Jesus

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