Only half a dozen verses later Peter rebukes Jesus, who sternly rebukes Peter ( Matthew 16:22-23).

The New Testament uses Peter 178 times, Simon Peter 29 times, Simon (speaking of Peter) 17 times, Cephas nine times, and Simeon (again speaking of Peter) twice in Acts 15:14 and 2 Peter 1:1.Ī chapter later, Peter makes his confession, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” ( Matthew 16:16). That said, Simon’s life story really doesn’t start in earnest until he meets Jesus, who renames him Cephas, which translated is Peter ( John 1:42). We know Simon is married and his mother-in-law sometimes lives with them. We know his father is Jonah (John), who had named his first son Simon and his second Andrew. In Acts 15:7-14, Galatians 2:7-8, and 2 Peter 3:15-16, it’s clear the two apostles highly esteem each other and their respective ministries. In Galatians, Paul briefly mentions Cephas in 1:18 and 2:9 and his momentary lapse into hypocrisy in 2:11-14. In 1 Corinthians, Paul briefly mentions “Cephas” four times in 1:12, 3:22, 9:5, and 15:5. That isn’t everything, though, about Peter. You’ll see that the impulsive Peter in the four gospels becomes the Holy Spirit-emboldened apostle of Acts 1-12 and, later, 1 and 2 Peter.

Or take three minutes to read one of those exciting chapters. If you want to see Peter in action afterward, take half an hour to read Acts 1-12. The first half of Peter’s story is told in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Worst betrayals: Peter denies Jesus Christ three times in one night. He’s crucified upside down by Nero in Rome. Writes two remarkable epistles: 1 and 2 Peter. Serves as the primary source for Mark’s gospel. He walks on water briefly before starting to go under - and talks as much as all the other apostles put together. Claims to fame: Peter goes by three names: Simon, Cephas, Peter.

Peter in Flight by Paul Michael Peters