1) Peter was originally named Simon and was a fisherman from Galilee who was called by Jesus to be one of his disciples. 2) Jesus gave Simon the name Peter, which means "rock", and said he would build his church upon him. 3) Peter was a leader in the early church, preaching at Pentecost and performing many signs and wonders. He helped establish the church and its practices and preached the gospel to both Jews and Gentiles. 4) Peter was eventually martyred in Rome under Nero's persecution of Christians, being crucified upside down as he felt unworthy to die the same way as Jesus.

1. THE ROCK
Examining the Life and Ministry of Simon Peter
Breath of Life International Church, April 2012
“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will
build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
Matthew 16:18

2. Who is Peter?
• Named Simon Barjona
– Son of Jonas, or Jonah, an Israelite
• A “common” man
– Married with a home in Capernaum
– Matthew 8:14; Mark 1:30; Luke 4:38; 1 Corinthians 9:5
– Fisherman, partnered with James and John, in
Bethsaida
– Luke 5:10
– Brother to Andrew
– Well versed in Jewish doctrine (name is Jewish)

3. Simon, The Rock
• Surnamed PETER by Jesus (Simon Peter)
– Means “stone” or “rock”
– Aramaic Cephas
– Greek Petros
– Hebrew Kepha
• Mark 3:14-16
– And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and
that he might send them forth to preach,
– And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:
– And Simon he surnamed Peter

4. Discipleship
• The Call (Matthew 4:13-22; John 1:35-42)
• Revelation (Matthew 16:13-19)
• Walking on Water (Matthew 14:28-31)
• Questions his Teacher (Matthew 18:21-35)
• Foot Washing (John 13:2-11)
• Retaliation for Jesus (John 18:10)
• The Denial of Christ (Mark 14:66-72)
• The Resurrection (Luke 24:1-12; 1 Corinthians
15:3-7)
• The Call to Shepherd (John 21:14-23)

5. The Apostle
• Historically accepted as the first Apostle
ordained by Jesus for the early Church
• Matthew 10:2; Acts 1:13
• Belonged to an elite subset of the Apostles
– Included Peter, James and John (sons of
Zebedee)
• Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9; Mark 9:2-8; Luke
9:28-36)
• Raised damsel from the dead (Mark 5:35-43)
• Prayer at Gethsemane (Mark 14:32-41)

6. Peter and the Early Church
• Delivers sermon on the Day of Pentecost
– Confirms the Holy Ghost
– Acts 2:14-47
• Preaches many open-air sermons
• Builds the church
– First preacher of the Gospel, after fruition
– Message of repentance
– Act of baptism
– Seal of the Holy Ghost, with signs and wonders
following

7. Leadership and Authority
• Lead the effort to select a replacement for
Judas Iscariot
• Acts 1:12-26
• Twice arraigned before the Sanhedrin (with
John)
• Acts 4:7-22
• Acts 5:18-42
• Missionary journeys to evangelize Gentiles
• Acts 9:32-10:2
• Historically accepted as Bishop of Antioch for
seven years

8. Signs, Wonders and Miracles
• Acts 3:7
– Cured a lame beggar
– Led to many converting to Christianity
• Acts 5:1-11
– Ananias and Sapphira
• Acts 5:15-16
– Peter's shadow cures the sick
• Acts 9:36
– Tabitha is resurrected
• Acts 12:6-17
– Rescued by an angel before his trial before Herod

9. Peter and Paul
PETER PAUL
• Blue collar fisherman • White collar
• Informal education philosopher, teacher
• Common man • Highly educated
• Walked with Christ in • Elite, Pharisee
the flesh • Called by Christ to
• Established the Church conversion
• Apostle to the Jews • Set order in the Church
• Apostle to the Gentiles

10. Peter and Paul
• Galatians 1:18-24
– Paul travels to Jerusalem to spend 15 days with
Peter (3 years after his conversion)
• Galatians 2:7-9
– Ministry to the Gentiles assigned to Paul by
Peter
• Galatians 2:11-14
– Cephas (Peter) visits Antioch and is rebuked by
Paul for [seemingly] treating Jewish Christians
different than Gentile believers

11. Peter’s Revelation
• Acts 10:9-16
– Peter reminded that through Christ’s death and
resurrection, a new covenant is established
• Acts 10:34-35
• Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I
perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
• But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh
righteousness, is accepted with him.
• Acts 11:1-11
– Peter recounts his experience

12. Death
• Foretold by Christ (John 21:18-19)
• Died as a martyr
– Christians blamed for the Great Fire of Rome (64
A.D.)
• Crucified upside down
– Sentenced to death by crucifixion
– Felt unworthy to die in the same manner as
Jesus

13. Apostolic Legacy
• Always a student
• Strong follower… Strong leader
• Teachable; Not above correction
• Faithful to Christ, the call, and the Church
• Spiritual father and mentor
• Purity of the Gospel; Clean, clear message
• Signs, wonders and miracles

14. Examining the Life and Ministry of Simon Peter
© Breath of Life International Church, 2012
THE ROCK