Twelve Ordinary Men
Simon Barjonah Simon (Shimon in Hebrew) - He who has heard/hears [the word of God] Barjonah Bar (Hebrew) son of Cephas (Aramaic) rock Peter (English) version of Petros (rock in Greek) Πέτρος
Father Jonah (Barjonah) More probably dead/alive? Why? Brother Andrew Mother In Law Healed of fever (Matt. 8:15, Mark 1:29-31, Luke 4:38) Wife Paul references her (I Cor. 9:5)
I Peter Identified in I Pet. 1:1 Written between 60 65 A.D. Authored from Babylon which is believed to be code for Rome (I Pet. 5:13) Written to the believers who had been dispersed throughout the ancient world and were under intense persecution II Peter Identified in II Peter 1:1 Written between 65 68 A.D. Written to warn about false teachers Mark Not the primary author but believed to be written based on the sermons of Peter Mark the Evangelist according to tradition/early church writers Likely same person as John Mark Possibly at the arrest of Jesus (Mark 14:51-52) One of the 70 disciples sent out (Luke 10:1-24) according to Hippolytus Joined Peter after arrest/rescue by angel (Acts 12) somewhere on his journey to Rome (Eusebius of Caesarea)
Hometown Bethsaida (John 1:44) Moved to Capernaum (Mark 1:29-31) Why would he/they move? Magdala Change in Bethsaida
The city of fish Archaeological dig at El Araj since 2016 Roman bathhouse Gilded-glass tesserae for a mosaic, perhaps indicating the presence of an important church. Such a church, built over the house of Peter and Andrew, was described by a visitor to Bethsaida in 725. Bible Stories Feeding of 5000 (Luke 9) Blind Man Healed (Mark 8) Home of 3 Apostles (Peter, Andrew, Philip) Renamed to Julias by Herod Philip in 30 AD per Josephus
Nahum s village no apparent relation to prophet though Established 2 nd Century B.C. Population ~1500 people Ruled by Herod Antipas 40 miles from Nazareth Located at crossroads of two main highways (Matt. 4:15) Synagogue built by Roman Centurion (Luke 7:3-5) Home of Many Apostles Peter, Andrew, James, John, Matthew, likely others Jesus Home Base (Matt. 4:12-13) Man with the Unclean Spirit (Luke 4:31-36, Mark 1:21-28) Healing of Roman Centurion s Servant (Luke 7:1-10) Paralytic lowered through roof (Matt. 9, Mark 2, Luke 5) Jesus eventually curses the city (Matt. 11:23)
Career Fisherman (John 1:44) Owned the boat Jesus used to preach to multitudes in Lake Gennesaret (Luke 5:3) Other Possible follower of John the Baptist (John 1:35-42)
John the Baptist shows two of his disciples Jesus as the Lamb of God (John 1:35-42) Andrew tells his brother, Simon (Peter) Jesus then tells him his name will be Cephas Jesus heals Peter s Mother-in-Law (Luke 4:38-39) Cast Your Nets to the Other Side (Luke 5:1-11) Had heard Jesus preach Had seen Jesus miracles Left everything and followed Him
Inner Circle Possibly the head of the Inner Circle (3 Groups) Always listed first among the Apostles Often appears to be the one the speaks for the group in asking/answering Jesus Main speaker Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) Tough guy Possibly a Sergeant At Arms type Apostles had two swords (Luke 22:38) Peter was carrying one of them when he struck Malchus ear (John 18:10) Left handed? Cut of Malchus right ear
Catholics claim Peter as the First Pope I Peter written from Babylon (I Pet. 5:13) Considered by many historians as a reference to Rome 1 Clement, a document that has been dated from the 90s to the 120s, is one of the earliest sources offered in support of Peter's stay in Rome Claimed to be the First Bishop of Rome No words of Jesus that ever claim Rome as a special place for the Church Even if Peter did teach in Rome, the Bible is clear that even in the 1 st century, there were many false teachers A direct lineage of Popes does not mean that they are teaching the truth
James, not Peter, however appears to be the head of the 1 st Century Church Only named elder of the Jerusalem Church (Acts 21:18) When Paul talks about being accepted by the Apostles, James mentioned before Peter (Gal. 2:9) Paul and Peter argued (Gal. 2:11-14) James comes up with a solution (Acts 15:19-21) Eusebius' Church History But Clement in the sixth book of his Hypotyposes writes thus: For they say that Peter and James and John after the ascension of our Saviour, as if also preferred by our Lord, strove not after honor, but chose James the Just bishop of Jerusalem.
According to historians/traditions: Hinted to in John 21:18-19 Crucified by Nero around the 10th year anniversary of taking power Just after the Great Roman fire (which he blamed on Christians) Margherita Guarducci, who led the research leading to the rediscovery of Peter's reputed tomb in its last stages (1963 1968), concludes Peter died on 13 October AD 64 during the festivities on the occasion of the "dies imperii" of Emperor Nero Crucified after watching wife crucified Requested to be crucified upside down (Eusebius) 1 st mentioned as being in Rome by Dionysius of Corinth (mid 2 nd century) Peter s bones have been discovered a few times in Rome by the Catholic Church Alleged to be buried under St. Peter s Basilica Pope Vitalian's letter to King Oswy of the Britons (CE 665), offering him the remains (then called relics) of the apostle Peter and Paul Pope Pius XII stated in December 1950 that none could be confirmed to be Saint Peter's with absolute certainty June 26, 1968 Pope Paul VI declares that in some previously discarded debris, a 1 st century man discovered around 61 years of age declared to be Peter Antonio Ferrua, head archaeologist that excavated the tomb said that he is not convinced