Peter and Paul

 

Peter

• The basics:

• Peter’s given name was Simon

• He was a fisherman

• He was the brother of Andrew and the son of Jona (or Jonas or John)

• The Bible says Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law so Peter is the only apostle we are certain was married

• John 1:40-42, One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

• In Matthew 4:18-20, Jesus calls Peter to be a follower but here, John records the first time Peter meets Jesus.

• We know Jesus called Simon Peter after his profession of Jesus as the Messiah in Matthew 16:15-18, He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 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.

• Perhaps it was his profession that earned Simon the nickname of Peter, but we see in John that Jesus already seemed aware that Simon would make that profession. He called Simon Cephas (Aramiac/Hebrew) the first time they met.

• There are actually 2 different words being used (although they are related)

• Petros (Πέτρος) - Strong’s word 4074

• Petra (πέτρα) - Strong’s word 4073

• According to Strong’s: 4073 pétra (a feminine noun) – "a mass of connected rock," which is distinct from 4074 (Pétros) which is "a detached stone or boulder" (A-S). 4073 (pétra) is a "solid or native rock, rising up through the earth" (Souter) – a huge mass of rock (a boulder), such as a projecting cliff.

• Jesus is the Rock on which His Church is built.  Peter was a rock that was placed upon it.

• Peter was perhaps the boldest of the twelve, with John being a close second.

• Peter often asked Jesus questions the other disciples seemed afraid to ask

• He asked Jesus how many times we should forgive our brother

• He asked Jesus to walk on the water

• He asked Jesus, “What shall be our reward?”

• When Peter was told he would be martyred, he asked Jesus, “What about John?”

• Peter is the apostle who drew a sword at Jesus’ arrest and was ready to fight

• He had said earlier that he would die for Jesus.  Here, he seemed ready to do it.

• Yet in spite of everything he did for Jesus, Peter is sometimes best remembered for having denied even knowing Him

• It’s sort of like doubting Thomas

• Remember, people can always let us down but Jesus will never let us down!

• Jesus used Peter’s failures to strengthen him into being a de facto leader of the twelve

• Luke 22:31-34, And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me. 

• Peter’s ministry was primarily to the Jews

• He was considered one of the Elders in the church in Jerusalem

• Peter kept the Kosher laws, even though Jesus declared all food clean

• Acts 10:9-15 talks about a vision Peter had while praying.  He saw all sorts of beasts and a voice tells him to rise, kill, and eat them.  He replied, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. 

• Later in Acts 10, Peter said God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

• He was preaching to some gentiles there and they received his word and were saved

• Acts 10:43-48, To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.

• The Jews still struggled with the concept that non-Jews could be believers

• Tradition has it that Peter was crucified in Rome in 68 AD.  It’s said he asked to be crucified upside down because he did not deserve to die in the same manner as Jesus

Paul

• The basics

• Paul was born Saul, in Tarsus and was a Roman citizen

• He was a Pharisee and the son of a Pharisee

• He had also learned a trade, he was a tentmaker

• We’re introduced to Paul in Acts 7, at the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr.

• Acts 7:58-60, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. 

• Acts 8:1, 3-4, And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles…. As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

• Peter wanted every Jew to become a Christian.  Paul wanted to kill every Jew who became a Christian

• Paul’s persecution of early Christians was actually causing the gospel to be spread throughout the world faster

• Even though Paul approved of the death of Stephen, I wonder if the witness of Stephen’s faith even in death had an impact on him?

• Paul’s famous conversion on the road to Damascus

• Acts 9:1-5, And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

• Jesus seems to be saying that the persecution against Christians is a persecution of Him directly

• Jesus seems to express out loud a nagging doubt Paul had been feeling - It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks

• Seeing the faith of Christians and how rapidly the gospel was being spread, he may have sensed his efforts were futile

• Once again we see that Jesus wants even the most vile sinner to come to repentance

• Paul used his experience as a sinner as his testimony

• 1 Timothy 1:12-15, And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

• Paul’s ministry was to the gentiles which wasn’t very popular among the Jews

• Remember that some Jews in Jerusalem had made a pact not to eat or drink until Paul was dead

• Galatians 2 talks about this tension between believing Jews and gentiles.  Paul confronted Peter directly about it.

• Galatians 2:11, But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.

• Peter repented and agreed Paul’s calling was to the gentiles

• Paul made 3, far-reaching missionary journeys.  

• He visited cities like Corinth, Ephesus, Galatia, and Thessalonica.

• Later, he would write to the churches in the cities he’d visited or to people he’d met.

• These epistles (meaning, letters) became books of the Bible Corinthians, Ephesians, Galatians, Thessalonians, etc.

• Paul is believed to have written 13 books of the Bible, more than any other biblical author.  

• Paul was persecuted constantly because of his ministry

• He was arrested, shipwrecked, and even stoned at one point

• Tradition holds that Paul was beheaded at the command of Nero in 68 AD

The Apostle John

 All the apostles we discussed so far have only scant information recorded in the Bible about them.  The three we have remaining to discuss are abundantly attested.

John: the basics

• We know he was a fisherman

• He was the brother of James and son of Zebedee

• Mark 1:19-20, And when he had gone a little farther thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets. And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.

• Mark mentions there were hired servants with them.  This wasn’t just a family business, it was more of an enterprise.

• We know of only one name he had but he was also called by many titles

• John the Evangelist:  He was the writer of a gospel.  The gospel writers are collective known as the four evangelists

• John the Revelator:  He wrote the Book of Revelation while he was exiled in Patmos.  He’s also been called John of Patmos

• John the Elder:  

• John is believed to have outlived all the other apostles so he was older in a literal sense

• John wrote 3 epistles.  In 2 & 3 John, he begins by addressing himself as “The Elder” to the person he’s writing to

• 2 John 1, The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth;

• 3 John 1, The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

• Presbyter is the Greek word for elder and John is sometimes called, John the Presbyter

• So John wrote 5 of the 27 books of the New Testament, nearly 20%!

• Mark 3:17, And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:

• James and John together were called the sons of thunder

• The name suggests they probably had rowdy dispositions or maybe aggressive ambitions

• A famous example of their rash behavior is from Luke 9:54, And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?

• Matthew 20:20-24, Then came to him the mother of Zebedees children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.

•  The Disciple whom Jesus loved: curiously, John does not mention his own name in his gospel.  Whenever he is discussed, he refers to himself only as, “the disciple whom Jesus loved.”

• John was one of the closest disciples to Jesus - perhaps the closest.

• He was one of 3 disciples who witnessed the Transfiguration, Matthew 17:1-2

• He was one of 3 who witnessed the resurrection of Jairus’ daughter, Luke 8:51

• He was one of the 3 Jesus took with Him into Gethsemane, Mark 14:33

• John and Peter followed Jesus after His arrest but only John went into the palace with Him, John 18:15, And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest.

• At the Crucifixion, Jesus charged John to care for His mother. John 19:25-27.

• This was in spite of the fact that we know for certain Jesus had other brothers.  He seemed to trust John even more than them

Because of his longevity and the amount written about him/by him, we can see a maturing happen in John

• While he was with Jesus, he was bold and ambitious.

• After the Ascension, he remained bold, but now he was focused on more important things

• Acts 4:13, Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

• Acts 4:18-21, And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.

• Acts 8:14-15, Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost.

• John had been the one who wanted Jesus to call down fire on a Samaritan city.

• Now John was one of the apostles chosen to help guide the Samaritans in their spiritual growth

• In his epistles, John continuously uses a curious term, “my little children.”

• The Greek work teknon (plural is tekna), means offspring or descendant. 

• It doesn’t mean young adult as in child.

• My daughter is 30.  She’s still my child (teknon) even though she’s not a child (paidion).

• John uses the diminutive iota, teknia

• Adding this iota makes the word more affectionate, like it’s describing a young person

• In English, it’s like the difference between Robert, Rob, or Robbie

• John is writing to people he probably led to the Lord personally

• He thinks of them as his children as though they were born of him

• He dotes over them as he gives them these inspired words.

• He’s genuinely concerned for them, like a parent

• When John wrote his own gospel, he no longer had any personal ambition.  He would not even mention his own name.  He only identified as the disciple whom Jesus loved.

• Recite John 3:19 using your own name.

John’s gospel

• John’s gospel is the last book to be written in the Bible.

• After his exile in Patmos, where he wrote Revelation, he return to the city of Ephesus where be wrote his gospel

• John may have been in his 90s and was nearing his death

• John’s gospel is radically different in form than they Synoptic Gospels

• Mark began his gospel with the coming of John the Baptist and the Baptism of Jesus

• Matthew began his gospel with the genealogy of Jesus and the OT prophecies concerning the Messiah

• Luke included a genealogy of Jesus all the way back to Adam, showing that Jesus was fully Man and our Kinsman Redeemer

• John begins his gospel with the divinity of Christ.

• John 1:1, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

• A glimpse at the Trinity where the Word was simultaneously with God and is God

• He is also the eternal God who already existed before the world began

• John 1:3, All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

• Jesus is the same Person as the God of Genesis 1 who created the heavens and the earth

• John frequently used the Greek term ego eimi

• When Moses asked God His name, God said, “I am who I am.  Tell them, I AM has sent me.”

• John records many examples where Jesus refers to Himself as I AM

• John 8:56-58, Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

• John 8:28, Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.

• John cites more examples of Jesus using ego eimi than all the other gospels combined.

• John tells us his objective is not just to preserve a record but to evangelize

• John 19:33-35, But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.

• 1 John 1:1, 3-5, That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; ….. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

• John is believed to have died of old age

• John 21:18-23, Verily, verily, I say unto thee [Peter], When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?

• Perhaps, sensing his own death, John wanted to dispel the rumor that Christ would return before he died.  

• Tradition says that John died of natural causes in 98AD