Overview of the Life of Peter

I pulled this overview of the life of Peter together for a preaching series and thought it might be helpful for others as you study the Gospels, Acts, and the Petrine epistles.

Overview of the Life of Peter

Peter, whose given name was Simon, was from Bethsaida but lived in Capernaum of Galilee (John 1:44)

Jesus meets Simon, son of John, and renames him Cephas, or Peter (John 1:40-44)

Peter and his brother, Andrew, worked as fishermen in the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 4:18)

Peter, with Andrew, James, and John, is called by Jesus to follow Him (Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20; cf. Luke 5:1-11)

Peter’s mother-in-law is healed of a fever by Jesus (Matthew 8:14-15; Mark 1:29-31; Luke 4:38-39)

Peter was on the boat when Jesus calmed the storm (Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25)

After other disciples depart, Peter declares that Jesus is the One who holds the words of life (John 6:68)

Peter is selected as one of the twelve apostles who are also sent out (Matthew 10:1-4; Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:12-16)

Peter, James, and John accompany Jesus in the healing of Jairus’ daughter (Matthew 13:23-26; Mark 5:37-43; Luke 8:51-56)

Jesus walks on water and Peter joins Jesus there (Matthew 14:22-33; Mark 6:45-52)

Peter declares that Jesus is the Christ at Caesarea Philippi, and Jesus declares Peters as “The Rock”; Peter rebukes Jesus about His passion and Jesus rebukes Peter in return (Matthew 16:13-23; Mark 8:27-33; Luke 9:18-22)

Peter is one of three eyewitnesses to Jesus’ transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8; Luke 9:28-36)

Peter and John sent to prepare the upper room meal (Matthew 26:17-19; Mark 14:12-16; Luke 22:7-13)

Jesus washes His disciples’ feet, with special mention of Peter (John 13:1-10)

Peter expresses allegiance to Jesus in the upper room, but Jesus predicts his denial (Matthew 26:30-35; Mark 14:26-31; Luke 22:31-34, 39; John 13:31-37)

Jesus addresses Peter and the disciples about their failure to stay awake and pray in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:40-46)

When Jesus is arrested, Peter draws a sword and cuts of the high priest’s servant’s ear (John 18:10)

After Jesus’ arrest, Peter followed at a distance to the trial before the Jewish Council; Peter denies Jesus in the night (Matthew 26:57-75; Mark 1453-72; Luke 22:54-71; John 18:15-28)

The angel meets the women near the tomb and tells them to relay word of Jesus’ resurrection to the disciples, including Peter (Mark 16:7)

Peter runs to the tomb of Jesus after the account from the women of Jesus’ resurrection (Luke 24:12; John 20:1-6) 

Peter and the other disciples returned to Galilee to fish and meet Jesus there; Jesus reinstates Peter, inviting Peter to feed the sheep of Jesus (John 21:1-23)

A hint in John about the death of Peter (John 21:18-19)

Peter is amongst the disciples who wait for the Holy Spirit in prayer; Peter catalyzes the selection of a replacement for Judas (Acts 1:13-20)

After the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, Peter preaches a sermon with a dramatic response (Acts 2)

Peter and John encounter a beggar and Peter heals him, then proclaims the message about Jesus (Acts 3)

Peter and John are interrogated by the Sanhedrin (Acts 4)

Peter rebukes Ananias and Sapphira, who are struck dead for deceiving the Holy Spirit (Acts 5)

Peter were healed by Peter’s shadow falling upon them (Acts 5:15)

After Philip’s preaching, Peter and John travel to Samaria to pray for the Holy Spirit to fall upon the Samaritans (Acts 8)

Peter heals Aeneas and raises Dorcas from death (Acts 9:32f)

Peter has the rooftop vision that leads him to Cornelius the centurion and the expansion of the message to the Gentiles (Acts 10)

Peter explains his actions to the leadership of the church in Jerusalem (Acts 11)

Peter is arrested but then miraculously delivered from prison by an angel (Acts 12)

After his conversion, Paul visits with Peter and the other apostles in Jerusalem (Galatians 1:18-19)

Paul confronts Peter’s hypocritical behavior when he’s in the presence of non-Jewish believers and Jewish believers (Galatians 2)

Peter speaks to the Jerusalem gathering about the inclusion of the Gentiles (Acts 15)

Eusebius reflects widespread tradition within the church as early as the writing of Clement and that Peter moved to Rome to minister, eventually being martyred there, likely during the reign of Nero (Eusebius, Church History, II.14 and II.25)

Peter likely told his stories to John Mark, who likely recorded that in what we know as the Gospel of Mark (Eusebius, Church History, II.15)

Roughly 62-64 AD – 1 Peter is written

Roughly 64-67 AD – 2 Peter is written

Roughly 64-67 AD Peter jailed in Jerusalem and eventually crucified upside down because he felt unworthy to be crucified in the same manner as Jesus (Tertullian, Origen, and Eusebius)