A Call To Understand

The study of the Apostle Peter is an amazing study. It shows humanity in its greatest weakness and grace at its most powerful strength. We are somewhat introduced abruptly to Peter in our text. There is scarce little biographical information throughout the New Testament but we have enough along with history and tradition to be able to piece together a little of his early life.

First - A Man With Two Names

Peter was born to a man named John or Jonah (that is what the Simon Bar-Jonah means in Matthew 16:17 when Jesus has asked his disciples to tell him who they thought he was and Peter speaks up and says that He is the Christ. Jesus responds "Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven. " The Bar-jonah meaning son of Jonah.

Our text calls him Simon (Shimon) Peter why two names? There are two thoughts

I had always thought Jesus changed his name from Simon to Peter but there really is no evidence for that in scripture. We do however find in John 1:40-42 where Jesus nicknames Simon Peter or Cephas. This is a symbol of his change of character, from here on he would be a new or different person. In fact you will find Jesus giving Simon a Aramaic nickname "Cephas" or "Petras" in the Greek or "Peter" in the English. Meaning Rock or perhaps a modern nickname (Rocky) 11 It is possible I suppose according to some Scholars that Peter always had two names Simon (Shimon) his Jewish name and "Petra" his Greek name. This is very plausible as Peter according to John grew up in Bethsaida a town on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, and was a Hellenistic city, meaning it was influenced by the Greek culture and pagan way of life. In fact they have discovered an ancient burial ground in this area and they can tell that some were eating Kosher and some were not.

Peter is sometimes referred to as the "Founding Father of the Christian Church" and is even claimed to have been the first Pope of the Catholic church although most protestant Christians would dispute this.

It is interesting that Peter is mentioned more times in the New Testament than anyone else other than Jesus. He was part of the inner circle of Jesus as a disciple and as an Apostle was a great leader in the early Christian Church.

Was in the end taken to Rome and crucified according to tradition upside down by the order of Nero.

O. Cullmann's comprehensive study divides his life into three sections - Peter: Disciple-Apostle-Martyr.

I think that is a nice concise way to divide his life but I want to look at it in a little different angel and so I have titled this study

"A Life of Fishing" and will study thses different aspects of his life.

Peter - A Life of Fishing - A Call To Understand - Introduction / Overview of Peter's Life

Peter - A Life of Fishing - A Call To Fish - Peter Before Christ

Peter - A Life of Fishing - A Call To Serve - Peter after Christ

Peter- A Life of Fishing - A Call To Preach - Peter after Pentecost

Peter - A Life of Fishing - A Call To Give - A Call To Give - Peter at Death

We've already explained a little about his birth what we know of his parents, and some major events in his life. I want to go back to the little town where Simon was born the town of Bethsaida, no doubt he was born to middle-class to poor family who perhaps were fishermen as well. By the time we meet up with Simon Peter as Jesus calls him, he is living in Capernaum. There were no doubt several reasons for him to move from Bethesda to Capernaum perhaps he wanted a family we do see later in the scripture that Peter was married. Not only did Jesus heal his mother-in-law but apparently she might have been well known. Paul in defending his apostleship makes the argument in 1 Corinthians 9:5 (KJV) 5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

(we don't know but could have had children) , perhaps it was due to business, or some other reason.

We are not given a lot of information concerning his cultural or educational status but considering he was a fisherman it is probable assumption that he and his brother Andrew were uneducated and ignorant that doesn't mean they were dumb as they probably had successful business they were just not taught the finer points of the law or Torah, but they had were exposed to Greek culture and education and according to Mark 14:70 and Matt 26:73 Peter had a recognizable accent.

While they may not have been taught by the Rabbi's in Jerusalem they no doubt were sincere followers of Yahweh as both Peter and Andrew were disciples and followers of John the Baptist according to John 1:40-42, who told them he was not the one but there was one coming.

What was Peter like? He seemed to be ;

Impulsive. Hot-tempered: drawing sword in Gethsemane (John 18:10). Blend of courage and cowardice (Gal. 2:12). Bargainer: 'What shall we have?' (Matt. 19:27). Boastful (Mark 14:29). Self-confident (Luke 22:33; John 13:37). Possibly swearer: oaths at the denial as recurrence of former habit (Mark 14:71).

N.B.—Yet many think these were not necessarily profane oaths, but solemn asseverations. In either case the fact of the guilt is the same (see He Chose Twelve. By Dr. Elder Cumming).

I like to imagine this man who was a tried to be a devout follower of God, being taught by John the Baptist, moderately successful business of fishing and selling the fish. A nice family, nice house all the nice amenities of life, yet so needy and so many problems as mentioned earlier.

one day is out fishing putting in a hard days work, as he is pulling in the nets again and starting to count the fish that are falling into the ship, he hears a voice nearby, Simon, follow me and I will make you a fisher of men. Peter thinks about this he wasn't dumb remember, but in the end he calls a buddy over and says here take care of my boat and nets I'm following Jesus.

While Peter wasn't dumb, I doubt he understood all that hinged and would result from this decision. But As we go through this study together we will find, that Simon a needy and sinful man met someone who extended grace to him. He found out as we will find out no matter how overwhelming our needs are to us they will never overwhelm God's Grace.