#8~ THE APOSTLE PETER 1-25-14
The New Testament gives a more complete picture of Peter than of any other disciple, with the exception of Paul.
~Peter also called Simon; Simon Peter's father's name was John sometimes referred to as Jonas or Jonah. -- We know nothing more about his parents.
~Simon was a very common name. There are at least seven Simons in the Gospel accounts.
Among the Twelve apostles were two named Simon,
1. Simon Peter.
2. And Simon the Zealot.
3. In Matthew 13:55, Jesus' half brothers are listed, and one of them was also named Simon.
4. Judas Iscariot's father was called Simon as well John 6:71.
5. Matthew 26:6 we read that Jesus had a meal at the home of a man in Bethany called Simon the leper.
6. Simon the Pharisee -- Jesus ate at his home, in Luke 7:36-40.
7. And Simon the Cyrene, the man ordered to carry Jesus' cross partway to Calvary. -- Matthew 27:32 .
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* But the Lord gave him another name. Luke introduces him this way:
>Luke 6:14 Simon, (whom he also named Peter,)
~ Why would Luke mention the fact that some times the Lord Jesus would refer too Simon Peter as such? -- Simon, (whom he also named Peter,)
~ Listen, Jesus had a purpose in calling Peter by his old name "Simon" at times.
~He was sometimes known as Simon, & sometimes as Peter, and sometimes as Simon Peter. There is a reason, listen.
~ When Jesus first met Simon, he fit James's description of a double-minded man unstable in all his ways James 1:8.
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"Peter" was sort of a nickname, it means "Rock, a stone" The Aramaic equivalent was Cephas.
> 1 Corinthians 1:12 Paul said - Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; [Peter] and I of Christ.
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* We read about the first time Jesus meets Simon Peter.
>John 1:40-42 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. --- 41He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
42And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, a stone.
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* Why would Jesus some time refer to him as Simon, his old name?
~When we see that in Scripture, it is often a signal that Peter has done something that needs rebuke or correction.
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~ It's much like the names "Jacob & Israel" there's many verses in the bible that both names occur; I believe the reason is because; "Jacob" is a picture of the old man, the flesh. We each have a sinful, carnal nature that we inherited through our fleshly birth. In the New Testament, this sinful nature is often referred to as the "old man." Romans 6:6.
~ The name "Israel" is a picture of the new man. -- Ephesians 4:24 "And that ye put on the new man, -- He was called Jacob when he displayed his old conniving ways.
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* Simon Peter can be thought of with the same understanding much of the time, though not ever time.
~ By nature Simon was out spoken and often spoke when he should have kept quit.
>Matthew 26: 31-35 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
32But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.
33Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.
34Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee,** That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
35Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.
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~ Listen, Jesus the Son of God, plainly told Peter that he would deny Him 3 times, -- any clear thinking person should know, that what ever Jesus said was the way it would be, but not Simon Peter.
Our dear brother Simon Peter was making promises that he could not keep, Jesus said so. ---
~Why did Jesus changed Simons name too Peter? -- It seems that Jesus wanted the nickname to be a continual reminder to him about who he should be.
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And from then on, whatever Jesus called him was a reminder to him of his actions. --- If He called him Simon, He was signaling him that he was acting like his old self.
If He called him Peter, He was commending him for his actions.
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~After Jesus first encounter with Simon Peter, we find two distinct contexts in
Which the name "Simon" is regularly applied to him.
~ Where Scripture refers to his house for example, it usually says "Simon's house" -- not "Peter's house"
>Mark 1:29 And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
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> Acts 10:17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,
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~ When it speaks of his mother-in-law, it does so in similar terms: "Simon's wife's mother" -- not "Peter's wife's mother"
> Mark 1:30 But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon [immediately] they tell him of her.
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>Luke 5:3 And HE entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. --Not "Peters ship"
>>verse 10 - And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. -- Not "partners with Peter "
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~In the verses we just read to do Simon, which was his old given name; they have nothing to do with his spirituality or his character, we find nothing sinful about SIMON in these verses, these verses are simply pointing out his work, his home, and his family life, these are called "Simon's" things.
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~But there are other references where he is called "Simon" that he is seen displaying the characteristics of his unregenerate self, that is, when he was sinning either in word, attitude, or action.
Whenever he begins to act like his old self, Jesus and the Gospel writers revert to calling him Simon as well.
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>Luke 5:4-5 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
5And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
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That is young Simon the fisherman speaking, he is skeptical and some-what rebellious, but as he obeys and his eyes are opened to who Jesus really is, Luke then begins to refer to him by his new name.
>Verse 8 says When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
* Notice, in verse 5 Luke the writer of his gospel calls him "SIMON"
~ 5~ And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
~ But as he obeys and his eyes are opened to whom Jesus really is, Luke then begins to refer to him by his new name.
>Verse 8 says When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
~I want to point out its verse 8--"EIGHT" the number of new beginnings.
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~ The apostle John knew Peter very well, they were lifelong friends, and both worked together in the fishing business.
In the Gospel of John, John refers to his friend 17 times as "Simon Peter" he called him "PETER" 17 times as well.
~It seems that John couldn't make up his mind which name to use, because he saw both sides of Peter constantly.
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>Matthew 28:1-7 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary --
--the other Mary was either~ Mary, mother of Jesus, or Mary the wife of Alphaeus, we're not told which, it seems to me that it would not be "the mother of Jesus" because most like she would have been named.
--to see the sepulchre. 2And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 3His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. 5And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 6He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
7And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
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But Simon, being Simon, grew Impatient and apparently got tired of waiting, so he announced that he was going fishing John 21:3). -- As usual, the other disciples followed their leader. --- They got into the boat, fished all night, and caught nothing.
~But Jesus was waiting for them on the shore the following morning, where He had prepared breakfast for them.
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~ It seems the main purpose of the breakfast meeting was for the restoration of Peter, who if we'll recall, denied knowing Jesus 3 times earlier.
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~ After they had come to shore Jesus addressed him as "Simon" 3 times, perhaps because Simon had denied knowing Jesus 3 times. "Simon, son of Jonah, lovest thou me?" John 21:15-17). Three times, Peter affirmed his love.
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That was the last time Jesus ever had to call him Simon. -- A few weeks later, on Pentecost, Peter and the rest of the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit, now it was Peter, the Rock, who stood up and preached that day.
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~ Peter was exactly like most Christians, both carnal and spiritual, He would go back to the habits of the flesh sometimes; at other times he worked in the Spirit, He was sinful sometimes, but other times he acted the way a righteous man aught to act. -- Sometimes Simon, sometimes Peter -- he was the leader of the Twelve.
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The early church historians believe that the Gospel of Mark was primarily dictated from Peter; Marks Gospel tells of Peter's experiences while traveling and living with Jesus. ~ When we read the Gospel of Mark we can see the details of what appears to be an eyewitness from the perspective of Peter.
~ Peter told the story and then it was written down by John Mark.
We're told no where that Mark was present for Jesus ministry, and could not have known 1st. hand of the details that are described in Mark.
Some of the events where Peter, James, and John who were often alone with Jesus, like the Transfiguration, are like a first-person retelling of the story.
~ Mark was not of an apostle.
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~~Let me say also, that Luke was not an eyewitness of all the events in his gospel; -- Luke relied on the testimony of eyewitnesses and written sources as well.
>Luke 1:1-2 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things (writings) which are most surely believed among us, 2Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; --
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~ Luke then carefully investigated and arranged his material and presented it to Theophilus. -- Both, the gospel of Luke and Acts were written too a man named Theophilus.
> Acts 1:1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, --
("Treatise" means a written composition on a particular subject, in which its principles are discussed or explained)
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~ BACK TOO THE APOSTLE PETER:
Peter NEVER went to Rome. "There is no allusion to Rome in either of his epistles....There is in fact, no New Testament evidence, nor any historical proof of any kind, that Peter ever was in Rome.
Peter was not in the city of Rome or ever in the city of Rome.
Most of the people that says he was, are of the Catholic faith, they even say he was the first Pope, if he was, he was the only one we know of that had a wife.
Peter was crucified by the Romans us-side down.
