Peter’s role

During the ten days from Jesus’ ascension to the descent of the Holy Spirit, the group of believers prayed fervently. In such time, Peter began to take action as a leader. The first half of the Acts of the Apostles revolves around Peter (Ch. 1-15). Let’s re-look some details about Peter’s background: (1) His Hebrew name is Simon (ref. Acts 15:14). The nickname Jesus gave him is Petros in Greek and Kepha in Aramaic. Peter’s name always appears first in the lists of the twelve apostles (Matt. 10:2, Mark 3:16, Luke 6:14, Acts 1:13). (2) Peter and Andrew were brothers, fishermen from Bethsaida. They were among the first disciples called, but before that, they had been disciples of John the Baptist. (3) Peter was married and lived in a large house in Capernaum, which was right by the synagogue. In that house, Jesus had healed Peter’s mother-in-law of a fever. (4) Peter was one of the three disciples closest to Jesus (Peter, James, and John). (5) Peter denied Jesus three times (which is recorded in all four Gospels). He was also the first of the apostles to see the resurrected Jesus. “And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, saying, ‘The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon!’” (Luke 24:33-34). (6) The resurrected Jesus appointed Peter as the shepherd of the Church (John 21:15-17). (7) He was given the “keys of the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 16:19). He used these keys to open the gates of the kingdom of heaven for Jews, Samaritans, and Gentiles. In the Acts of the Apostles, this unfolds as the salvation of the Jews (Chapter 2), the Samaritans (Chapter 8), and the Gentiles (Chapter 10). (8) In a Jewish context, Peter served as a rabbinical leader. He made judgments related to the Law and adjudicated sins. His authority was validated by supernatural powers, as illustrated by the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:5). (9) After Acts Chapter 15, Peter appears to have served as an itinerant evangelist. Let us remember how much patience God exercised in developing Peter into a mature servant of Christ. God disciplines us with patience, similar to how a father disciplines his child. Let’s joyfully accept the discipline from God.