Peter
First Peter 1:1 “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,”
Peter?
Who is Peter?
According to the book of Matthew, chapter four, verse eighteen, Peter is the brother to Andrew, and they are both fishermen.
They made their living as fishermen [their professional occupation] on the Sea of Galilee.
Take a look at Matthew chapter four, verse eighteen, and we will see this: “And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.” [Matthew 4:18]
There is something else we know about Peter.
We know he is a married man … [to the grief of the Roman Catholic Pope in Rome].
We know Peter is married because of what the BOOK tells us about his wife in Matthew chapter eight, verse fourteen.
[You do believe the BIBLE, don’t you?]
“And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.” [Matthew 8:14]
Believing the BOOK will clear out the smoke of superstition in this world.
We also know that Peter has a surname.
We see this fact in Matthew chapter ten, verse two: “Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;” [Matthew 10:2].
Now, what in the world is a surname? This is a good question!
According the 1828 Webster dictionary, it is
this:
“SUR'NAME, n. [L. super
and nomen.]
An additional name; a name or appellation added to the baptismal or Christian name, and which becomes a family name. Surnames, with us, originally designated occupation, estate, place of residence, or some particular thing or event that related to the person.”
Where did Peter get this surname? Again, the Bible has the answer. [Ultimately, all the important questions one can have in this life are answered in the Bible. Amen!]
We see in Mark chapter three, verse sixteen that Peter received his surname from the Son of God HIMSELF. “And Simon he surnamed Peter;” [Mark 3:16].
Now how about this? Have you ever heard the phrase: “you are walking on water” uttered in some way or in some fashion?
Well, it came from this BOOK [THE BIBLE – the A.V.1611]!
It is found in chapter fourteen, verse twenty-nine of the book of Matthew. “And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.” [Matthew 14:29]
What a supernatural feat! Peter is the only man recorded in history to have ever walked on water. This is quite a distinction isn’t it? Think about it! Then, go ahead a try it out for yourself.
Furthermore, Peter is one of the original twelve apostles.
For this, look in the book of Acts to see that Peter is one “of these men which have companied with” Jesus Christ “all the time that the Son of God” was with them [forty-two months]. [Acts 1:21]
Therefore, an apostle is the foundational office limited to a particular time frame. “Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.” [Acts 1:22
Here is something else we need to understand about Peter.
Peter is a JEW, and according to Jeremiah chapter thirty-four, verse nine, a Jew is defined as a Hebrew. “That every man should let his manservant, and every man his maidservant, being an Hebrew or an Hebrewess, go free; that none should serve himself of them, to wit, of a Jew his brother.” [Jeremiah 34:9]
A Jew, being a Hebrew, clearly is identified with Abram [Abraham] in the book of Genesis. [See Genesis fourteen in verse thirteen.] “And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.” [Genesis 14:13]
A Hebrew is someone who is a descendant of Abraham through Issac and Jacob.
This is critical to understanding the Bible. Here is the proof text. “And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.” [Genesis 17:19]
The Jews are they who have Abraham, Issac and Jacob as their fathers.
• [Matthew 1:2] “Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;”
• [Matthew 8:11] “And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.”
• [Matthew 22:32] “I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”
• [Acts 7:8] “And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.”
Peter is a Jew.
Peter is a Hebrew, and something else, Peter is an Israelite, also, because God renamed Isaac: ISRAEL. “And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.” [Genesis 32:28]
There you have it!
• Peter is the brother to Andrew.
• Peter is
a fisherman.
• Peter has a wife.
• Peter has a
surname.
• Jesus gave Peter his surname.
•
Peter had walked on water.
• Peter is an apostle
of Jesus Christ.
• Peter is a Jew.
• Peter is
a Hebrew.
• Peter is an Israelite.
This is the Peter who wrote: The First Epistle of Peter.