Saint Peter

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Saint Peter

West: Prince of the Apostles, First Pope

East: Pre-eminent Apostle

Born c. 1, Bethsaida

Died 64, Rome, by crucifixion

Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox

Venerated in
Church, Anglican Church, Oriental Orthodoxy

Major
St. Peter's Basilica
shrine

Feast main feast (with Paul the Apostle) 29 June

(Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox
Church, Oriental Orthodoxy, Anglicanism)
Chair of St Peter in Rome 18 January (Pre-1960
Roman Calendar)
Chair of St Peter 22 February (Roman Catholic
 Church)
St Peter in Chains 1 August (pre-1960 Roman
Calendar)

Keys of Heaven, pallium, Papal vestments, man

crucified head downwards, vested as an Apostle,
Attributes
holding a book or scroll. Iconographically, he is
depicted with a bushy white beard and white hair

Patronage See St. Peter's Patronage

Saint Peter (Greek: Πετρος, Rock)[1] (c.1–64 AD) was the first of the Twelve Apostles, chosen
by Jesus from his first disciples. He is prominently featured in the New Testament Gospels and
the Acts of the Apostles. Peter was a Galilean fisherman assigned a leadership role by Jesus.
(Matthew 16:18) He was with Jesus during events witnessed by only a few apostles, such as the
Transfiguration.[2] Early Christian writers provided more details about his life. Catholic tradition
claims him as the first bishop of Rome, author of two canonical epistles, and a martyr under
Nero, crucified head down, and buried in Rome.[2] His memoirs are traditionally cited as the
source of the Gospel of Mark.
The Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Anglican Communion
consider Simon Peter a saint. According to Catholic tradition, but not in Orthodox tradition, Peter
was the first bishop of Rome (Orthodox regard Linus to be the first bishop of Rome) and
Catholics argue that the Pope is Peter's successor and therefore the rightful superior of all other
bishops. Eastern and Oriental Orthodox also not recognize the Bishop of Rome as the successor
of Saint Peter but the Ecumenical Patriarch sends a delegation each year to Rome to participate
in the celebration of the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul. In the "Ravenna Document" of 13 October
2007, the representatives of the Eastern Orthodox Church agreed that "Rome, as the Church that
'presides in love' according to the phrase of St. Ignatius of Antioch (To the Romans, Prologue),
occupied the first place in the taxis, and that the bishop of Rome was therefore the protos among
the patriarchs, if the Papacy unites with the Orthodox Church. They disagree, however, on the
interpretation of the historical evidence from this era regarding the prerogatives of the bishop of
Rome as protos, a matter that was already understood in different ways in the first millennium."
In art, he is often depicted holding the keys to the kingdom of heaven (interpreted by Roman
Catholics as the sign of his primacy over the Church), a reference to Matthew 16:19.

Contents
[hide]
• 1 Names and etymologies
• 2 New Testament account
○ 2.1 Background
○ 2.2 Position among the apostles
○ 2.3 Walking on water
○ 2.4 Washing of feet
○ 2.5 Arrest of Jesus
 ○ 2.6 Denial of Jesus
○ 2.7 Empty tomb
○ 2.8 Resurrection appearances
○ 2.9 Role in the early church
○ 2.10 Antioch and Corinth
○ 2.11 Council of Jerusalem
○ 2.12 Epistles
○ 2.13 Death
• 3 Accounts outside the New Testament
○ 3.1 Status
○ 3.2 Martyrdom
○ 3.3 Connection to Rome
○ 3.4 Noncanonical sayings of Peter
○ 3.5 Denial of Jesus
○ 3.6 After the death of Jesus
• 4 Religious interpretations
○ 4.1 Roman Catholic Church
 4.1.1 Protestant objections
 4.1.1.1 Lutheran objections
 4.1.2 St. Peter's Basilica
 4.1.3 Feast days
○ 4.2 Eastern Orthodox
 4.2.1 Feast days
○ 4.3 Syriac Orthodox Church
○ 4.4 Evangelical Protestant and Seventh-day Adventist
○ 4.5 New Apostolic Church
○ 4.6 Latter Day Saint movement
○ 4.7 Afro-American syncretism
○ 4.8 Jewish folklore
• 5 Writings
○ 5.1 New Testament
○ 5.2 Pseudepigrapha and apocrypha
• 6 Popular culture
• 7 Patronage
 • 8 Holy relics
• 9 Notes
• 10 See also
• 11 External links

[edit] Names and etymologies

Peter is also known as Ben-Yonah/Bar-Yonah, Simon Peter, Cephas and Keipha (Keipha and
Cephas also mean rock)—original name Shimon or Simeon
[edit] New Testament account
Peter's life story relies on the New Testament, since there are few other first-century accounts of
his life and death. In the New Testament, he is the first of the disciples called during Jesus'
ministry. It was during his first meeting with Jesus that Jesus named him Peter. Peter was to
become the first apostle ordained by Jesus in the early church.[2]
[edit] Background
Peter ran a fishing business in Bethsaida (John 1:44). He was named Simon, son of Jonah or
John.[3] The synoptic gospels all recount how Peter's mother-in-law was healed by Jesus at their
home in Capernaum (Matthew 8:14–17; Mark 1:29–31; Luke 4:38) which, coupled with 1
Corinthians 9:5, proves conclusively that Peter was married, contrary to traditions stating
otherwise.
In the synoptics, Peter (then Simon) was a fisherman along with his brother Andrew and the sons
of Zebedee, James and John. The Gospel of John also depicts Peter fishing, even after the
resurrection of Jesus, in the story of the Catch of 153 fish.

Ruins of ancient Capernaum on north side of the Sea of Galilee. An Orthodox church is built on
top of traditional site of Saint Peter's house.
In Matthew and Mark, Jesus called Simon and his brother Andrew to be "fishers of men"
(Matthew 4:18–19; Mark 1:16–17).
In Luke, Simon Peter owns the boat that Jesus uses to preach to the multitudes who were
pressing on him at the shore of Lake Gennesaret (Luke 5:3). Jesus then amazes Simon and his
companions James and John (Andrew is not mentioned) by telling them to lower their nets,
whereupon they catch a huge number of fish. Immediately after this, they follow him (Luke 5:4–
11).
The Gospel of John gives a slightly different, though compatible account (John 1:35–42).
Andrew, we are told, was originally a disciple of John the Baptist. Along with one other disciple,
Andrew heard John the Baptist announce Jesus as the "Lamb of God," whereupon he followed
Jesus. Andrew then went and fetched his brother Simon, saying, "We have found the Messiah,"
and then brought Peter to Jesus. Jesus then gave Simon the name "Cephas," meaning 'rock', in
Aramaic. 'Petros', a masculine form of the feminine 'petra' (rock) is the Greek equivalent of this.
It had not previously been used as a name, but in the Greek-speaking world it became a popular
Christian name after the tradition of Peter's prominence in the early Christian church had been
established.
[edit] Position among the apostles
Peter is always mentioned first in the lists of the Twelve. He is also frequently mentioned in the
Gospels as forming with James the Elder and John a special group within the Twelve Apostles,
present at incidents to which the others were not party, such as at the Transfiguration of Jesus. He
often confesses his faith in Jesus as the Messiah.
Peter is often depicted in the Gospels as spokesman of all the apostles. Catholics refer to him as
chief of the Apostles,[4][5] as do the Eastern Orthodox[6] and the Oriental Orthodox.[7][8] (Some
believe this is not the same as saying that the other Apostles were under Peter's orders.) In
contrast, Jewish Christians are said to have argued that James the Just was the leader of the
group.[9] Some argue James was the Patriarch of Jerusalem, and that this position at times gave
him privilege in some (but not all) situations. The early Church historian Eusebius (c AD 325)
records Clement of Alexandria (c AD 190) as saying,
"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."[10]
Paul affirms that Peter had the special charge of being apostle to the Jews, just as he, Paul, was
apostle to the Gentiles.
[edit] Walking on water
All four canonical Gospels recount Jesus walking on the water. Matthew additionally describes
Peter walking on the water, but sinking when he lost his faith.(Matthew 14:28–31).
[edit] Washing of feet
John 13:2-11 recounts that at the beginning of the Last Supper Jesus washed his disciples' feet;
Peter initially refused to let Jesus wash his feet, but when Jesus responded: "If I wash thee not,
thou hast no part with me", Peter replied: "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my
head".
The washing of feet is often repeated at Mass on Holy Thursday in the Roman Catholic Church
and at similar services by other groups.
[edit] Arrest of Jesus
Saint Peter striking Malchus
All four canonical Gospels mention that, when Jesus was arrested, Peter bravely cut off the ear of
the high priest's slave, an action that Jesus rebuked. John names the slave as Malchus, and the
man with the sword as Peter. Luke adds that Jesus touched the ear and miraculously healed it.
[edit] Denial of Jesus
All four canonical gospels recount that, during the Last Supper, Jesus foretold that Peter would
deny him three times before the cock crowed twice (the next morning.) The three Synoptics
describe the three denials as follows:
1. A denial when a female servant of the high priest spots Simon Peter, saying that he had
been with Jesus.
2. A denial when Simon Peter had gone out to the gateway, away from the firelight, but the
same servant girl or another told the bystanders he was a follower of Jesus.
3. A denial came when Peter's Galilean accent was taken as proof that he was indeed a
disciple of Jesus.
Matthew adds that it was his accent that gave him away as coming from Galilee. Luke deviates
slightly from this by stating that, rather than a crowd accusing Simon Peter, it was a third
individual.

St Peter Denying Christ, by Gustave Doré

The Gospel of John places the second denial while Peter was still warming himself at the fire,
and gives as the occasion of the third denial a claim by someone to have seen him in the garden
of Gethsemane when Jesus was arrested.
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus' prediction of Peter's denial is coupled with a prediction that all the
apostles ("you," plural) would be "sifted like wheat," but that it would be Peter's task ("you,"
singular), when he had turned again, to strengthen his brethren.
In a reminiscent[11] scene in John's epilogue, Peter affirms three times that he loves Jesus.
[edit] Empty tomb
In John's gospel, Peter is the first person to enter the empty tomb, although the women and the
beloved disciple see it before him (John 20:1–9). In Luke's account, the women's report of the
empty tomb is dismissed by the apostles and Peter is the only one who goes to check for himself.
In fact, he runs to the tomb. After seeing the graveclothes he goes home, apparently without
informing the other disciples (Luke 24:1–12).

Church of the Primacy of St. Peter on the Sea of Galilee. Traditional site where Jesus Christ
appeared to his disciples after his resurrection and, according to Catholic tradition, established
Peter's supreme jurisdiction over the Christian church.
[edit] Resurrection appearances
Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians, (chapter15), contains a list of resurrection appearances of
Jesus, the first of which is an appearance to "Cephas" (Peter): 1 Corinthians 15:3–7. Here Paul
follows a very early tradition that Peter was the first to see the risen Christ.[2] Luke 24:34 also
mentions an appearance to "Simon" as the first in Jerusalem, more or less contemporaneous with
the appearance to the two disciples on their way to Emmaus.
In the final chapter of the Gospel of John, Peter, in one of the resurrection appearances of Jesus,
three times affirmed his love for Jesus, balancing his threefold denial, and Jesus reconfirmed
Peter's position (John 21:15–17). Some scholars hypothesize that it was added later to bolster
Peter's status.[12]
Statue of St. Peter on the south door of St Mary's Church in Aylesbury, United Kingdom
[edit] Role in the early church
The author of the Acts of the Apostles portrays Peter as an extremely important figure within the
early Christian community, with Peter delivering a significant open-air sermon during Pentecost.
According to the same book, Peter took the lead in selecting a replacement for Judas Iscariot
(Acts 1:15). He was twice arraigned, with John, before the Sanhedrin and directly defied them
(Acts 4:7–22, Acts 5:18–42). He undertook a missionary journey to Lydda, Joppa and Caesarea
(Acts 9:32–10:2), becoming instrumental in the decision to evangelise the Gentiles (Acts 10).
About halfway through, the Acts of the Apostles turns its attention away from Peter and to the
activities of Paul, and the Bible is fairly silent on what occurred to Peter afterwards. His
remaining biography, save the account of his execution, is speculative.[citation needed]
[edit] Antioch and Corinth
A fleeting mention of Peter visiting Antioch is made in the Epistle to the Galatians (Galatians
2:11-14) where Paul rebuked him for treating Gentile converts as inferior to Jewish Christians.[1]
The Liber Pontificalis (9th century) mentions Peter as having served as bishop of Antioch before
his journey to Rome.[13] Historians have furnished other evidence of Peter's sojourn in Antioch.[14]
Subsequent tradition held that Peter had been the first Patriarch of Antioch.
He might have visited Corinth, as a party of "Cephas" existed there.[2]
[edit] Council of Jerusalem
Main article: Council of Jerusalem
At the council of Jerusalem (c 50), the early Christian church, Paul and the leaders of the
Jerusalem church met and decided to embrace Gentile converts. In Galatians, Paul depicts Peter
as supporting Paul's mission among the Gentiles, shaking hands on it, along with James and
John.[1] In the same epistle, he declares Christianity independent from Judaism and himself
independent of the Jerusalem church, owing the other apostles there "nothing."[1] Acts portrays
Peter as successfully opposing the Christian Pharisees who insisted on circumcision and the rest
of the Mosaic law.[1]
[edit] Epistles
Church tradition ascribes the epistles First and Second Peter to Saint Peter,[1] as does the text of 2
Peter itself. First Peter refers to the author being in Rome ("Babylon").[1] Most scholars regard
First Peter as not authored by him,[1] and there is still considerable debate about the Petrine
authorship of Second Peter. However the Greek in both books are similar, and the early Church
was adamantly opposed to pseudographical authorship.[1]
[edit] Death
In the epilogue[1] of the Gospel of John, Jesus hints at the death by which Peter would glorify
God (John 21:18–19), saying "'…when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and another
will gird you and take you where you do not want to go.'" This is understood as a reference to
Peter's crucifixion.[11]
It is an indisputably established historical fact that St. Peter labored in Rome during the last
portion of his life, and there ended his earthly course by martyrdom.[citation needed] The death of St.
Peter is attested to by Tertullian at the end of the second century, and by Origen in Eusebius,
Church History II.1. Origen says: "Peter was crucified at Rome with his head downwards, as he
himself had desired to suffer".[15] He was crucified upside down after he reputedly stated that he
was not worthy to die as Jesus did.
[edit] Accounts outside the New Testament
In Catholic tradition, Peter is said to have founded the church in Rome (with Paul), served as its
bishop, authored two epistles, and then met martyrdom there along with Paul.[2]
[edit] Status
St. Clement of Rome identifies Peter and Paul as the outstanding heroes of the faith.[2] Papias
reported that the Gospel of Mark was based on Peter's memoirs, a tradition still accepted by
some scholars today.[2]
[edit] Martyrdom

Caravaggio's depiction of the crucifixion of Saint Peter.

The Annuario Pontificio gives the year of Peter's death as A.D. 64 or A.D. 67. Early church
tradition (as indicated below) says Peter probably died at the time of the Great Fire of Rome of
the year 64. Margherita Guarducci, who in its last stage (1963-1968) directed the research that
led to the rediscovery of Peter’s tomb, was of the opinion that Peter died on October 13 A.D. 64
during the festivities on the occasion of the “dies imperii” of Emperor Nero. This took place
three months after the disastrous fire that destroyed Rome for which the emperor wished to
blame the Christians. This “dies imperii” (regnal day anniversary) was an important one, exactly
ten years after Nero acceded to the throne, and it was ‘as usual’ accompanied by much
bloodshed. Traditionally, Roman authorities sentenced him to death by crucifixion. According to
the apocryphal Acts of Peter, he was crucified head down. Tradition also locates his burial place
where the Basilica of Saint Peter was later built, directly beneath the Basilica's high altar.
Clement of Rome, in his Letter to the Corinthians (Chapter 5), written c. 80-98, speaks of Peter's
martyrdom in the following terms: "Let us take the noble examples of our own generation.
Through jealousy and envy the greatest and most just pillars of the Church were persecuted, and
came even unto death… Peter, through unjust envy, endured not one or two but many labours,
and at last, having delivered his testimony, departed unto the place of glory due to him."
Traditions originating in or recorded in the apocryphal Acts of Peter, say that the Romans
crucified Peter upside down at his request because he did not wish to be equated with Jesus. Acts
of Peter is also thought to be the source for the tradition about the famous phrase "Quo vadis,
Domine?" (or "Pou Hupageis, Kurie?" which means, "Whither goest Thou, Master?"), a question
that, according to this tradition, Peter, fleeing Rome to avoid execution, asked a vision of Jesus,
and to which Jesus responded that he was "going to Rome, to be crucified again," causing Peter
to decide to return to the city and accept martyrdom. As legends go, this has no historical basis.
This story is commemorated in an Annibale Carracci painting. The Church of Quo Vadis, near
the Catacombs of Saint Callistus, contains a stone in which Jesus' footprints from this event are
supposedly preserved, though this was actually apparently an ex-voto from a pilgrim, and indeed
a copy of the original, housed in the Basilica of St Sebastian.
The ancient historian Josephus describes how Roman soldiers would amuse themselves by
crucifying criminals in different positions, and it is likely that this would have been known to the
author of the Acts of Peter. The position attributed to Peter's crucifixion is thus plausible, either
as having happened historically or as being an invention by the author of the Acts of Peter.
Death, after crucifixion head down, is unlikely to be caused by suffocation, the usual cause of
death in ordinary crucifixion.
A medieval misconception[citation needed] was that the Mamertine Prison in Rome is the place where
Peter was imprisoned before his execution.
In 1950, human bones were found buried underneath the altar of St. Peter's Basilica. The bones
have been claimed by many to have been those of Peter.[16] An attempt to contradict these claims
was made in 1953 by the excavation of what some believe to be St Peter's tomb in Jerusalem.[17]
However along with supposed tomb of Peter bearing his previous name Simon, tombs bearing
the names of Jesus, Mary, James, John, and the rest of the apostles were also found at the same
excavation - though all these names were very common among Jews at the time, so the name
proves nothing.
In the 1960s, some previously discarded debris from the excavations beneath St Peters Basilica
were re-examined, and the bones of a male person were identified. A forensic examination found
them to be a male of about 61 years of age from the first century. This caused Pope Paul VI in
1968 to announce them most likely to be the relics of Saint Peter.[18]
[edit] Connection to Rome
While the New Testament is cryptic regarding Peter's connection to Rome, an early and
unrivalled Catholic tradition supports such a connection.[2]
Saint Ignatius of Antioch implies that Peter and Paul had special authority over the Roman
church.[2] In his Letter to the Romans (Ch. 4) of c. 105-110, tells the Roman Christians: "I do not
command you, as Peter and Paul did."
St. Irenaeus of Lyons stated definitively that Peter and Paul founded the Roman church. Irenaeus
was a disciple of St. Polycarp of Smyrna, who was himself a disciple of the Apostle St. John,
which puts Irenaeus not far from the authentic teachings of the Apostles. In c. 175-185, he wrote
in Against Heresies (Book III, Chapter III, paragraphs 2–3):
Since, however, it would be too long to enumerate in such a volume as this the succession of all the
churches, we shall confound all those who, in whatever manner, whether through self-satisfaction or
vainglory, or through blindness and wicked opinion, assemble other than where it is proper, by pointing
out here the successions of the bishops of the greatest and most ancient church known to all, founded and
organized at Rome by the two most glorious apostles, Peter and Paul, that church which has the tradition
and the faith which comes down to us after having been announced to men by the apostles. With that
church, because of its superior origin, all the churches must agree, that is, all the faithful in the whole
world, and it is in her that the faithful everywhere have maintained the apostolic tradition.
The blessed apostles, then, having founded and built up the Church, committed into the hands of Linus
the office of the episcopate. Of this Linus, Paul makes mention in the Epistles to Timothy. To him
succeeded Anacletus; and after him, in the third place from the apostles, Clement was allotted the
bishopric. This man, as he had seen the blessed apostles, and had been conversant with them, might be
said to have the preaching of the apostles still echoing [in his ears], and their traditions before his eyes.
Nor was he alone [in this], for there were many still remaining who had received instructions from the
apostles. In the time of this Clement, no small dissension having occurred among the brethren at Corinth,
the Church in Rome dispatched a most powerful letter to the Corinthians, exhorting them to peace,
renewing their faith, and declaring the tradition which it had lately received from the apostles…
Tertullian also writes: "But if you are near Italy, you have Rome, where authority is at hand for
us too. What a happy church that is, on which the apostles poured out their whole doctrine with
their blood; where Peter had a passion like that of the Lord, where Paul was crowned with the
death of John (the Baptist, by being beheaded)."
Dionysius of Corinth also serves as a witness to the tradition.[2] He wrote: "You (Pope Soter)
have also, by your very admonition, brought together the planting that was made by Peter and
Paul at Rome and at Corinth; for both of them alike planted in our Corinth and taught us; and
both alike, teaching similarly in Italy, suffered martyrdom at the same time" (Letter to Pope Soter
A.D. 170, in Eusebius, History of the Church 2:25:8).
Later tradition, first found in Saint Jerome, attributes to Peter a 25-year episcopate (or apostolate)
in Rome.[2]
[edit] Noncanonical sayings of Peter
Two sayings are attributed to Peter in the Gnostic Gospel of Thomas, of which two versions,
Coptic and Greek, were written shortly before 350 AD.[19] In the first, Peter compares Jesus to a
"just messenger."[20] In the second, Peter asks Jesus to "make Mary leave us, for females don't
deserve life,"[21] although the verse containing the latter is regarded as a dubious, later addition
by most scholars.[citation needed]
In the Apocalypse of Peter, Peter holds a dialogue with Jesus about the parable of the fig tree and
the fate of sinners.[22]
In the Gospel of Mary, whose text is largely fragmented, Peter appears to be jealous of "Mary"
(probably Mary Magdalene). He says to the other disciples, "Did He really speak privately with a
woman and not openly to us? Are we to turn about and all listen to her? Did He prefer her to
us?"[23] In reply to this, Levi says "Peter, you have always been hot tempered."[24]
Other noncanonical texts that attribute sayings to Peter include the Secret Book of James and the
Acts of Peter.
[edit] Denial of Jesus
In the Fayyum Fragment Jesus predicts that Peter will deny him three times before the cock
crows at dawn in an account similar to that of the canonical gospels, especially the Gospel of
Mark. The fragment's account is abbreviated, possibly a source text for the scene in Mark or an
edited version of it. There is no way to know which came first.
[edit] After the death of Jesus
The fragmentary/dubious Gospel of Peter, attributed to Peter, contains an account of the death of
Jesus differing significantly from the canonical gospels. It contains little information about Peter
himself, except that after the discovery of the empty tomb, "I, Simon Peter, and Andrew my
brother, took our fishing nets and went to the sea." [25]
[edit] Religious interpretations
[edit] Roman Catholic Church
Peter

Papacy began 30 AD?

Papacy ended 64 AD?
Predecessor first Vicar of Christ
Successor Linus

Birth name Simon/Simeon

Circa 64 AD
City of Rome,
Died
present day Italy
Main articles: Primacy of Simon Peter and Primacy of the Roman Pontiff
In Catholic tradition, Peter's leadership role among the Apostles, referred to above lies at the root
of the leadership role of the pope among the bishops of the Church. Some Protestants question
this belief on the grounds of alleged lack of contemporary evidence. In other words, they point
out that the claim has no historical basis.
The first Epistle of Peter ends with "The church that is in Babylon, chosen together with you,
salutes you, and so does my son, Mark." (1 Pet 5:13). Though the word "Babylon" refers literally
to a city in Mesopotamia, it could be used cryptically to indicate Rome, as some argue the term is
used in Revelation 14:8; 16:19; 17:5-6, and in the works of various Jewish seers. "Babylon"
could also simply be a reference to the present age, so the reference to a specific place is not
conclusive.
In reference to Peter's occupation before becoming an Apostle, the popes wear the Fisherman's
Ring, which bears an image of the saint casting his nets from a fishing boat. The keys used as a
symbol of the Pope's authority refer to the "keys of the kingdom of Heaven" promised to Peter
(Matthew 16:18–19). The terminology of this "commission" of Peter is unmistakably parallel to
the commissioning of Eliakim ben Hilkiah in Isaiah 22:15 and Isaiah 22:19–23.
Peter is therefore often depicted in both Western and Eastern Christian art holding a key or a set
of keys.
In the same passage of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells Peter: "You are Peter, and on this rock
I will build my Church." In the original Greek the word translated as "Peter" is Πέτρος (Petros)
and that translated as "rock" is πέτρα (petra), two words that, while not identical, give an
impression of one of many timew when Jesus used a play on words. Furthermore, since Jesus
presumably spoke to Peter in their native Aramaic language, he would have used kepha in both
instances.[26] The Peshitta Text and the Old Syriac text use the word "kepha" for both "Peter" and
"rock" in Matthew 16:18.[27] John 1:42 says Jesus called Simon "Cephas", as does Paul in some
letters. The traditional Catholic interpretation has therefore been that Jesus told Peter (Rock) that
he would build his Church on this Peter (Rock). Others point out that the context of the remark
was that Jesus was remarking on the testimony of Peter that Jesus was the Son of God, by saying
that Peter's knowledge of that fact was given him by revelation from God. In that context, Jesus
said, his church would be built on personal revelation from God.
[edit] Protestant objections
Many Protestants agree that Jesus made Peter the head of the church,[citation needed] but deny the
doctrine of Apostolic Succession. Some Protestant scholars disagree with this interpretation on
the basis of the difference between the Greek words. In classical Attic Greek petros generally
meant "pebble," while petra meant "boulder" or "cliff." Accordingly, taking Peter's name to mean
"pebble," they argue that the "rock" in question cannot have been Peter, but something else,
either Jesus himself, or the faith in Jesus that Peter had just professed. In appealing to the
doctrine of Biblical inerrancy, these scholars claim that speculation regarding the original
language/word choice of the event recorded in Matthew is irrelevant because the account in
Greek is without error, and thus there must be significance to the different words chosen by the
author.

Christ Handing the Keys to St Peter, by Pietro Perugino (1481-82)

Counter-arguments are presented not only by Catholic apologists like Karl Keating[26] but also by
scholars of other Christian churches, such as the Evangelical Christian D. A. Carson in The
Expositor's Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1984). They point out that the Gospel
of Matthew was written, not in the classical Attic form of Greek, but in the Hellenistic Koine
dialect, in which there is no distinction in meaning between petros and petra. Moreover, even in
Attic Greek, in which the regular meaning of petros was a smallish "stone," there are instances of
its use to refer to larger rocks, as in Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus v. 1595, where petros refers
to a boulder used as a landmark, obviously something more than a pebble. In any case, a
petros/petra distinction is irrelevant considering the Aramaic language in which the phrase might
well have been spoken. In Greek, of any period, the feminine noun petra could not be used as the
given name of a male, which may explain the use of Petros as the Greek word with which to
translate Aramaic Kepha.[26]
By analyzing the Greek, it is also believed by some that Jesus meant to single out Peter as the
very rock which he will build upon. This ignores the fact that Jesus repeatedly used a word to
create single-word allegories many, many times. Matthew uses the demonstrative pronoun taute,
which allegedly means "this very" or this same, when he refers to the rock on which Jesus'
church will be built. He also uses the Greek word for "and", kai. It is alleged that when a
demonstrative pronoun is used with kai, the pronoun refers back to the preceding noun. The
second rock Jesus refers to must then be the same rock as the first one; and if Peter is the first
rock he must also be the second.[28]
However, even though the feminine noun petra is translated as rock in the phrase "on this rock I
will build my church," the word petra (πέτρα in Greek) is also used at 1 Corinthians 10:4 in
describing Jesus Christ, which reads: "They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same
spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was
Christ."
Both Latin and Greek writers in the early Catholic church (such as St. John Chrysostom)
considered the "foundation rock" as applying to both Peter personally and his confession of faith
(or the faith of his confession) symbolically, as well as seeing Christ's promise to apply more
generally to his twelve apostles and the Church at large.[29] This "double meaning" interpretation
is present in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.[30]
[edit] Lutheran objections
Confessional Lutheran churches rebut Catholic apologists' position by stating if Peter really
means the Rock which made him the chief of Apostles, it would contradict Bible's teaching in
Ephesians 2:20 which says that the church's foundation is the apostles and prophets, instead of
Peter alone. And the meaning of Matthew 16:18 is that Jesus uses a play on words with Peter's
name to say that the confession he had just made is the rock on which the church is built.[31]
Protestant apologists argue that there is no biblical or historical evidence for the claims of the
Roman Catholic church that Peter was the first pope as even some Roman Catholic historians
admit that there were no popes and not even one bishop of Rome in the first century, quoting
Francis A. Sullivan's "From Apostles to Bishops" which says:[32]

“ "Most Christian scholars from both sides of this divide agree that the threefold
structure of ministry, with one bishop among a number of presbyters and deacons in
each church, does not appear in the New Testament...Hardly anyone doubts that the
church of Rome was led by a group of presbyters for at least a part of the second
century ....No doubt proving that bishops were the successors of the apostles by divine
institution would be easier if the New Testament clearly stated that before they died the
apostles had appointed a single bishop to lead each of the churches they founded"[33] ”
Theologically-conservative Christians, including Confessional Lutherans, also rebut comments
made by Karl Keating and D.A. Carso who claim that there's no distinction between the words
petros and petra in Koine Greek. The Lutheran theologians state that the dictionaries of
Koine/NT Greek, including the authoritative[34] Bauer-Danker-Arndt-Gingrich Lexicon, indeed
list both words and the passages that give different meanings for each. The Lutheran theologians
further note that:

“ "We honor Peter and in fact some of our churches are named after him, but he was not
the first pope, nor was he Roman Catholic. If you read his first letter, you will see that
he did not teach a Roman hierarchy, but that all Christians are royal priests. The same
keys given to Peter in Matthew 16 are given to the whole church of believers in
Matthew 18"[32] ”
[edit] St. Peter's Basilica
Main article: St. Peter's Basilica
When, in the early fourth century, the Emperor Constantine I decided to honour Peter with a
large basilica, the precise location of Peter's burial was so firmly fixed in the belief of the
Christians of Rome that the building had to be erected on a site that involved considerable
difficulties, both physical (excavating the slope of the Vatican Hill, while the great church could
much more easily have been built on level ground only slightly to the south) and moral and legal
(demolishing a cemetery). The focal point of the Basilica, both in its original form and in its later
complete reconstruction, is the altar placed over what is held to be the exact place where Peter
was buried.
[edit] Feast days

Looking down into the confessio near the tomb of Saint Peter, Saint Peter's Basilica, Rome.
The Roman Martyrology assigns 29 June as the feast day of both Peter and Paul, without thereby
declaring that to be the day of their deaths. St. Augustine of Hippo says in his Sermon 295: "One
day is assigned for the celebration of the martyrdom of the two apostles. But those two were one.
Although their martyrdom occurred on different days, they were one."
This is also the feast of both Apostles in the calendar of the Eastern Orthodox Church.
In the Roman Rite, the feast of the Chair of Saint Peter is celebrated on 22 February, and the
anniversary of the dedication of the two papal basilicas of Saint Peter's and Saint Paul's outside
the Walls is held on 18 November.
Before Pope John XXIII's revision in 1960, the Roman Calendar also included on 16 January
another feast of the Chair of Saint Peter (denominated the Chair of Saint Peter in Rome, while
the February feast was then called that of the Chair of Saint Peter at Antioch), and on 1 August
the feast of Saint Peter in Chains.
[edit] Eastern Orthodox

Icon of St. Peter (15th century, Russian State Museum, Saint Petersburg).
The Eastern Orthodox Church regards Saint Peter, together with Saint Paul, as "Preeminent
Apostles". Another title used for Peter is Coryphaeus, which could be translated as "Choir-
director", or lead singer.[35] The church recognizes Saint Peter's leadership role in the early
church, especially in the very early days at Jerusalem, but does not consider him to have had any
"princely" role over his fellow Apostles. The New Testament is not seen by the Orthodox as
supporting any extraordinary authority for Peter with regard to faith or morals. The Orthodox
also hold that Peter did not act as leader at the Council of Jerusalem, but as merely one of a
number who spoke. The final decision regarding the non-necessity of circumcision (and certain
prohibitions) was spelled out by James, the Brother of the Lord (though Catholics hold James
merely reiterated and fleshed out what Peter had said, regarding the latter's earlier divine
revelation regarding the inclusion of Gentiles).
With regard to Jesus' words to Peter, "Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my church",
the Orthodox hold Christ is referring to the confession of faith, not the person of Peter as that
upon which he will build the church. This is allegedly shown by the fact that the original Greek
uses the feminine demonstrative pronoun when he says "upon this rock" (ταύτῃ τῇ πέτρᾳ);
whereas, grammatically, if he had been referring to Peter, he would allegedly have used the
masculine.[36] This "gender distinction" argument is also held by some Protestants.
[edit] Feast days
In the Orthodox Daily Office every Thursday throughout the year is dedicated to the Holy
Apostles, including St. Peter. There are also two feast days in the year which are dedicated to
him:
• June 29, Feast of Saints Peter and Paul—This is a major feast day and is preceded by a
period of Lenten fasting known as the Apostles' Fast
• January 16, Veneration of the Precious Chains of the Holy and All-Glorious Apostle Peter
—commemorating both the chains which Acts 12:1-11 says miraculously fell from him,
and the chains in which he was held before his martyrdom by Nero
[edit] Syriac Orthodox Church
The Fathers of the Syriac Orthodox Church tried to give a theological interpretation to the
primacy of Saint Peter. They were fully convinced of the unique office of Peter in the primitive
Christian community. Ephrem, Aphrahat and Marutha who were supposed to be the best
exponents of the early Syriac tradition unequivocally acknowledge the office of Peter.
The Syriac Fathers following the rabbinic tradition call Jesus “Kepha” for they see “rock” in the
Old Testament as a messianic Symbol. When Christ gave his own name “Kepha” to Simon he
was giving him participation in the person and office of Christ. Christ who is the Kepha and
shepherd made Simon the chief shepherd in his place and gave him the very name Kepha and
said that on Kepha he would build the Church. Aphrahat shared the common Syriac tradition.
For him Kepha is in fact another name of Jesus, and Simon was given the right to share the
name. The person who receives somebody else’s name also obtains the rights of the person who
bestows the name. Aphrahat makes the stone taken from Jordan a type of Peter. He says Jesus
son of Nun set up the stones for a witness in Israel; Jesus our Saviour called Simon Kepha
Sarirto and set him as the faithful witness among nations.
Again he says in his commentary on Deuteronomy that Moses brought forth water from “rock”
(Kepha) for the people and Jesus sent Simon Kepha to carry his teachings among nations. Our
Lord accepted him and made him the foundation of the Church and called him Kepha. When he
speaks about transfiguration of Christ he calls him Simon Peter, the foundation of the Church.
Ephrem also shared the same view. In Armenian version of De Virginitate records Peter the Rock
shunned honour Who was the head of the Apostles. In a mimro of Efrem found in Holy Week
Liturgy points to the importance of Peter. Both Aphrahat and Ephrem represent the authentic
tradition of the Syrian Church. The different orders of liturgies used for sanctification of Church
building, marriage, ordination etc. reveal that the primacy of Peter is a part of living faith of the
Church. [37]
[edit] Evangelical Protestant and Seventh-day Adventist
 This section does not cite any references or sources.
Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be
challenged and removed. (June 2008)

Evangelical Protestants, Seventh Day Adventists and others contend that the idea of Peter being
the first Pope is based on a misinterpretation.[citation needed] (see the discussions above about the
words "petros" and "petra" in Attic and Koine Greek, and as a translation from the Aramaic).
They argue in addition that Peter was in need of a firm foundation to gain a sense of stability, as
Peter was noted for his great zeal, but instability:
1. In Matthew 14:28–31 Peter went out to walk on water, but then sank because of doubt.
2. In Matthew 26:35 and Matthew 26:74 Peter dramatically swears that he will not deny his
Lord even on pain of death, but he denied Jesus with cursing and swearing.
3. Matthew 15:15, Matthew 16:16, Matthew 17:4 Matthew 18:21, Matthew 19:27 are a few
examples of Peter being the first to answer.
4. John 21:7 Peter jumping into the water to meet his Lord.
They also argue that the statement by Peter: "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God" [38] is
the foundation of the Christian faith: not Peter, but the testimony that Peter gave.
They also argue that Peter's acts are recorded in all of the gospels, and the book of Acts, and his
writings were included in the bible, and are used by Christians today. In this sense Peter was
used in the building of the Lord's church, as a small stone (petros) would be used.
They also argue that the idea of making a single man the whole foundation of the church would
go against the principle taught in Matthew 23:8–12 although in John 21:15-17 Jesus clearly tells
"The Beloved Disciple" to feed and tend his sheep, and the ability to loose and bind is given to
every disciple of Christ. (Matthew 18:18)
[edit] New Apostolic Church
The New Apostolic Church, who believes in the re-established Apostle ministry, sees Peter as the
first Chief Apostle.
[edit] Latter Day Saint movement
Bronze statue on the the LDS Church's Temple Square (Salt Lake City, Utah, USA) depicting
Peter, James, and John conferring the Melchizedek priesthood in A.D. 1829 to Joseph Smith and
Oliver Cowdery
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church or "Mormons") along with other
sects of the Latter Day Saint movement believe that Peter was the first leader of the early
Christian church, but reject papal succession. In interpreting Matthew 16: 13–19 the church has
stated, "The words then addressed to him, 'Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my
church,' have been made the foundation of the papal claims. But it is the Godhead of Christ,
which Peter had just confessed, that is the true keystone of the Church."[39] Latter-day saints
believe that as part of the restoration, Peter, James and John came from heaven and conferred the
keys of the Melchizedek Priesthood upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in 1829, near
Harmony Township, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania.[40]
[edit] Afro-American syncretism
In the Cuban Santería and Palo Mayombe, he has been syncretized with Ogún.
[edit] Jewish folklore
This section does not cite any references or sources.
Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be
challenged and removed. (February 2009)

Saint Peter statue, Israel

According to Jewish folklore (Toledot Yeshu narrative), St. Peter (Shimeon Kepha Ha-Tzadik)
had a pristine reputation as a greatly learned and holy man who, according to the directions of his
sage to bring about the end of one hundred years of strife in Israel, established the Sunday
Sabbath for God-Fearers (converted from among Gnostic heretics known as The Watchers)
instead of Saturday, Noel (as a new year feast but not as Christmas) instead of Hanukkah, the
Feast of the Cross instead of Rosh Hashana, Firstfruits instead of Pesach, remembering The Feast
of The Jews (John 7:2) instead of Sukkot, and the Ascension instead of Shavuot. R. Judah ben
Samuel of Regensburg, who led Germany's 12th-century Chasidei Ashkenaz, considered him to
be a Tzaddik (a Jewish saint or spiritual Master among Hasidim) (Sefer Hasidim). The Tosaphist
Rabbeinu Tam wrote that he was "a devout and learned Jew who dedicated his life to guiding
gentiles along the proper path". R. Tam also passed on the traditions that St. Peter was the author
of the Sabbath and feast-day Nishmat prayer (although Otzar Hatefillah, quoting Mahzor Vitri,
pointedly denies this claim, offering in stead Simeon ben Shetach as the probable author), and
also that he authored a prayer for Yom Kippur in order to prove his commitment to Judaism
despite his work amongst Gentiles (R.J.D. Eisenstein). Legends about Peter and his activities are
also mentioned in other medieval works, such as the Mahzor Vitri.
[edit] Writings
Traditionally, two canonical epistles (1 & 2 Peter) and several apocryphal works have been
attributed to Saint Peter.
[edit] New Testament

A 6th-century encaustic icon from Saint Catherine's Monastery, Mount Sinai.

The New Testament includes two letters (epistles) ascribed to Peter. Both demonstrate a high
quality of cultured and urban Greek, at odds with the linguistic skill that would ordinarily be
expected of an Aramaic-speaking fisherman, who would have learned Greek as a second or third
language. However, the author of the first epistle explicitly claims to be using a secretary (see
below), and this explanation would allow for discrepancies in style without entailing a different
source. The textual features of these two epistles are such that a majority of scholars doubt that
they were written by the same hand. This means at the most that Peter could not have authored
both, or at the least that he used a different secretary for each letter. Some scholars argue that
theological differences imply different sources, and point to the lack of references to 2 Peter
among the early Church Fathers.
Of the two epistles, the first epistle is considered the earlier. A number of scholars have argued
that the textual discrepancies with what would be expected of the biblical Peter are due to it
having been written with the help of a secretary or as an amanuensis. Indeed in the first epistle
the use of a secretary is clearly described: "By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose,
I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye
stand" (1 Peter 5:12). Thus, in regards to at least the first epistle, the claims that Peter would
have written Greek poorly seem irrelevant. The references to persecution of Christians, which
only began under Nero, cause most scholars to date the text to at least 80, which would require
Peter to have survived to an age that was, at that time, extremely old, and almost never reached,
particularly by common fishermen. However, the Roman historian Tacitus and the biographer
Suetonius both record that Nero's persecution of Christians began immediately after the fire that
burned Rome in 64. Such a date, which is in accord with Christian tradition, especially Eusebius
(History book 2, 24.1), would not have Peter at an improbable age upon his death. On the other
hand, many scholars consider this in reference to the persecution of Christians in Asia Minor
during the reign of the emperor Domitian (81-96).
In the salutation of the first epistle, the writer refers to the diaspora, which did not occur until
136 a.d. "1. Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered
throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2. who have been chosen according
to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience
to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance."
The Second Epistle of Peter, on the other hand, appears to have been copied, in part, from the
Epistle of Jude, and some modern scholars date its composition as late as c. 150. Some scholars
argue the opposite, that the Epistle of Jude copied 2 Peter, while others contend an early date for
Jude and thus observe that an early date is not incompatible with the text. Many scholars have
noted the similarities between the apocryphal second pseudo-Epistle of Clement (2nd century)
and 2 Peter. Second Peter may be earlier than 150, there are a few possible references to it that
date back to the first century or early second century, e.g. 1 Clement written in c 96 AD, and the
later church historian Eusebius claimed that Origen had made reference to the epistle before 250.
Even in early times there was controversy over its authorship, and 2 Peter was often not included
in the Biblical Canon; it was only in the 4th century that it gained a firm foothold in the New
Testament, in a series of synods. In the east the Syriac Church still did not admit it into the canon
until the 6th century.
Traditionally, the Gospel of Mark was said to have been written by a person named John Mark,
and that this person was an assistant to Peter, hence its content was traditionally seen as the
closest to Peter's viewpoint. According to Eusebius's Ecclesiastical History, Papias recorded this
belief from John the Presbyter:
Mark having become the interpreter of Peter, wrote down accurately whatsoever he
remembered. It was not, however, in exact order that he related the sayings or deeds of
Christ. For he neither heard the Lord nor accompanied Him. But afterwards, as I said,
he accompanied Peter, who accommodated his instructions to the necessities [of his
hearers], but with no intention of giving a normal or chronological narrative of the
Lord's sayings. Wherefore Mark made no mistake in thus writing some things as he
remembered them. For of one thing he took especial care, not to omit anything he had
heard, and not to put anything fictional into the statements.—Eusebius, Ecclesiastical
History, 3.39.14–16
Also Irenaeus wrote about this tradition:
After their (Peter and Paul's) passing, Mark also, the disciple and interpreter of Peter,
transmitted to us in writing the things preached by Peter. (Irenaeus, Against Heresies, III.
1.2.; quoted by Eusebius in Ecclesiastical History, book 5, 7.6)
Based on these quotes, and on the Christian tradition, the information in Mark's Gospel about St.
Peter would be based on eyewitness material. It should be observed, however, that some scholars
(for differing reasons) dispute the attribution of the Gospel of Mark to its traditional author. The
gospel itself is anonymous, and the above passages are the oldest surviving written testimony to
its authorship.
[edit] Pseudepigrapha and apocrypha
There are also a number of other apocryphal writings that have been either attributed to or
written about St. Peter. They were from antiquity regarded as pseudepigrapha.[citation needed] These
include:
• Gospel of Peter, a Docetic narrative that has survived in part
• Acts of Peter
• Acts of Peter and Andrew
• Acts of Peter and Paul
• Acts of Peter and the Twelve
• Gnostic Apocalypse of Peter
• A Letter of Peter to Philip, which was preserved in the Nag Hammadi library
• Apocalypse of Peter, which was considered as genuine by many Christians as late as the
fourth century
• The Epistula Petri, the introductory letter ascribed to St Peter that appears at the
beginning of at least one version of the Clementine literature
[edit] Popular culture
Over the years "St. Peter" has evolved into a stock character that is now widely used in jokes,
cartoons, comedies, dramas, and plays. Such caricatures almost all play upon Peter's role as the
"keeper of the keys of the kingdom of heaven" in Matthew 16:19 [1], on the basis of which he is
often depicted as an elderly, bearded man who sits at the pearly gates that serve as heaven's main
entrance, and acting as a sort of hotel-style doorman / bouncer who personally interviews
prospective entrants into Heaven, often from behind a desk.
[edit] Patronage
In Roman Catholic religious doctrine and tradition, Saint Peter is the patron saint of the
following categories

Workers

• Bakers • Cordwainers • Masons

• Bridge builders • Horologists • Net makers
• Butchers • Locksmiths • the Papacy
• Fishermen • Cobblers • Shipwrights
• Harvesters
Called for aid in

• Frenzy • Fever • Longevity

• Foot problems
 Institutions

• Bath Abbey • Exeter College, • Peterhouse,

• Berchtesgaden Abbey Oxford Cambridge
• Universal Church • St Peter's College,
Oxford
Locations

• Birżebbuġa • Las Vegas • Providence

• Bremen • Leuven • Pubnico, Nova Scotia
• Brgy. San Pedro, San • Leiden • Regensburg
Pablo City • Lessines • Rome
• Worms • Maralal • Póvoa de Varzim
• Calatrava
• Marquette • Saint Petersburg
• Chartres • Moissac • San Pedro Soloma
• Chimbote
• Naumburg • Scranton
• Calbayog City • Obermarsberg • Sint-Pieters-Rode
• Cologne
• Philadelphia • Tielt
• Davao • Poznań • Toa Baja
• Dunajská Streda
• Umbria
• Jackson
• Köpenick

[edit] Holy relics

Pope Vitalian sent filings from Saint Peter's chains to Oswy, King of Northumbria in the seventh
century.[41]
[edit] Notes
1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Harris, Stephen L., Understanding the Bible. Palo Alto: Mayfield. 1985.
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Peter, St." Cross, F. L., ed. The Oxford dictionary of the Christian church. New
York: Oxford University Press. 2005
3. ^ His father's name is given as 'Jonah' (John 1:42, Matthew 16:17), although some manuscripts of
John give his father's name as John.
4. ^ [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11744a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia: St. Peter, Prince of the
Apostles
5. ^ Sermon by Leo the Great (440-461)
6. ^ Archbishop Stylianos of Australia
7. ^ Patriarch H.H.Ignatius Zakka I Iwas
8. ^ Identity of the Syriac Orthodox Church
9. ^ http://cbi.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/5/1/73.pdf
10.^ http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/250102.htm [Church History Book II, Chapter I, quoting
Clement of Alexandria's Sixth book of Hypotyposes]
11.^ a b May, Herbert G. and Bruce M. Metzger. The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the
Apocrypha. 1977.
12.^ Brodie, T. L. (1997). The Gospel according to John a literary and theological commentary. New
York: Oxford University Press. pg. 574
13.^ Louise Ropes Loomis, The Book of Popes (Liber Pontificalis). Merchantville, NJ: Evolution
Publishing. ISBN 1-889758-86-8 (Reprint of the 1916 edition.
14.^ This is provided in Downey, A History of Antioch, pp. 583–586. This evidence is accepted by
M. Lapidge, among others, see Bischoff and Lapidge, Biblical Commentaries from the
Canterbury School (Cambridge, 1994) p. 16. Lastly, see Finegan, The Archaeology of the New
Testament, pp. 63–71.
15.^ Kirsch, J.P. (1911). St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York:
Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved February 13, 2009 from New Advent:
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11744a.htm
16.^ Walsh, The Bones of St. Peter: A 1st Full Account of the Search for the Apostle's Body A more
popular account of the traditional tomb
17.^ Finegan, The Archeology of the New Testament, pp. 368–370. A more popular account of this
tomb.
18.^ www.saintpetersbasilica.org/Necropolis/JW/TheBonesofStPeter-1.htm - 34k -
19.^ Kirby, Peter. "The Gospel of Thomas." Early Christian Writings. 2006. 2 Feb. 2006
20.^ Gospel of Thomas 13
21.^ Gospel of Thomas 114
22.^ Apocalypse of Peter
23.^ Gospel of Mary 9:4
24.^ http://www.gnosis.org/library/marygosp.htm Gospel of Mary 9:6
25.^ Gospel of Peter 14:3
26.^ a b c http://www.catholic.com/library/Peter_the_Rock.asp
27.^ http://www.peshitta.org/pdf/Mattich16.pdf
28.^ Jesus, Peter & the Keys: A Scriptural Handbook on the Papacy
29.^ Veselin Kesich (1992). "Peter's Primacy in the New Testament and the Early Tradition" in The
Primacy of Peter. St. Vladimir's Seminary Press. pp. 61–66.
30.^ Catechism of the Catholic Church, Articles 424 and 552
31.^ WELS Topical Q&A
32.^ a b WELS Topical Q&A
33.^ Sullivan, Francis A., From Apostles to Bishops: The Development of the Episcopacy in the
Early Church, p217, 223
34.^ Rykle Borger, "Remarks of an Outsider about Bauer's Worterbuch, BAGD, BDAG, and Their
Textual Basis," Biblical Greek Language and Lexicography: Essays in Honor of Frederick W.
Danker, Bernard A. Tayler (et al. eds.) pp. 32-47.
 35.^ John Meyendorff, et al. (1963), The Primacy of Peter in the Orthodox Church (St. Vladimir's
Seminary Press, Crestwood NY, ISBN 978-0-881-41125-6)
36.^ Holy Apostles Convent (1999) The Orthodox New Testament, Vol. I: The Holy Gospels
(Dormition Skete, Buena Vista CO, ISBN 0-944359-13-2) p. 105
37.^ [Primacy of St. Peter http://www.syrianchurch.org/Articles/PrimacyofStPeter.htm]
38.^ This phrase is found in Revelation 12:17 and Revelation 19:10.
39.^ LDS Bible Dictionary—Peter
40.^ Doctrine & Covenants 27: 12–13
41.^ Wall, J. Charles. (1912), Porches and Fonts. Pub. London: Wells Gardner and Darton. P. 295.

[edit] See also

Saints portal

• St Peter's Basilica
• St Peter's Square
• The Big Fisherman
• San Pietro in Vincoli
• Saint Peter's tomb
• Sword of Saint Peter
• Saint Peter (disambiguation)
• Quo Vadis
• Church of St.Peter in Gallicantu

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Petrus

• stpetersbasilica.org Books on Peter in Rome

• Etymology of Peter
• The Jewish St Peter
• Jewish Encyclopedia: Simon Cephas
• Catholic Encyclopedia: St Peter, Prince of the Apostles
• Catholic Encyclopedia: Epistles of St Peter
• Veneration of the Precious Chains of the Holy and All-Glorious Apostle Peter Orthodox
icon and synaxarion
• The Holy Glorious and All-Praised Leader of the Apostles, Peter icon and synaxarion
 • The Holy Glorious and All-Praised Leader of the Apostles, Peter & Paul sermon of Saint
Augustine, Bishop of Hippo
• Catholic response to Protestant claims that Peter never visited Rome

Roman Catholic Church titles

Preceded by Pope Succeeded by

Newly created 30–64 Linus

Preceded by Bishop of Antioch Succeeded by

Newly created 37–53 Evodius
[show]
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Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ — (See also Paul)

[show]
v•d•e
New Testament people

Alphaeus · Anna · Annas · Barabbas · Bartimaeus · blind man, Bethsaida ·

Caiaphas · Cleopas · Devil · Dismas · Elizabeth · Gabriel · Gestas · Jairus'
Daughter · Joachim · Joanna · John the Baptist · Joseph · Joseph of Arimathea ·
IndividualJoses · Lazarus · Legion · Longinus · Luke · Malchus · Mark · Martha · Mary
sMagdalene · Mary mother of James · Mary mother of Jesus · Mary of Bethany ·
Mary of Clopas · Widow's son of Nain · Nathanael · Nicodemus ben Gurion ·
Salome · Simeon · Simon of Cyrene · Simon the Leper · Susanna · Theophilus ·
Zacchaeus · Zechariah

Angels · Disciples · Evangelists · Godfearers · Herodians · Magi ·

GroupsMyrrhbearers · Pharisees · Proselytes · Sadducees · Samaritans · Sanhedrin · 70
Disciples · Scribes · Zealots

Andrew · Bartholomew · James of Alphaeus · James of Zebedee · John

The Twelve(Beloved, Evangelist, Patmos) · Judas Iscariot · Jude Thaddeus · Matthew ·
Peter · Philip · Simon the Zealot, (Judas) · Thomas

After JesusMatthias · Paul of Tarsus

Aretas IV · Cornelius · Herod Antipas · Herod Archelaus · Herod Philip II · Herod

Gospelsthe Great · Longinus · Lysanias · Pontius Pilate · Pilate's Wife · Quirinius · Salome ·
Tiberius

Agrippa I · Agrippa II · Felix · Claudius Lysias · Junius A. Gallio · Festus · Sergius

Acts
Paulus

Achaichus · Alexander · Archippus · Crescens · Diotrephes ·

 Antipas · Four Horsemen · Apollyon · Two Witnesses · Woman · Beast ·
Revelation
Three Angels · Whore of Babylon

[show]
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History of Christianity

[show]
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Popes of the Roman Catholic Church

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JatXar
LuciIsy
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v•d•e
List of Syriac Orthodox Patriarchs of Antioch

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Peter"

Categories: 1st-century bishops | 67 deaths | Christian martyrs of the Roman era | Eastern
Orthodox saints | Papal saints | Patriarchs of Antioch | People executed by crucifixion | Saints
from the Holy Land | Palestinian Roman Catholic saints | Syrian popes | Twelve apostles |
Apostle Peter | Jewish Christians | 1st-century Christian saints | Saints of the Golden Legend
Hidden categories: Articles containing Greek language text | All articles with unsourced
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statements | Articles with unsourced statements since October 2008 | Articles with unsourced
statements since November 2008 | Articles needing additional references from June 2008 |
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February 2009 | Articles with unsourced statements since June 2008
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