Peter

Abstract

Abstract In the New Testament Peter, the Galilean fisherman, is the most prominent of Jesus ‘ followers. He is among the first of the disciples called by Jesus; he is frequently the spokesman and leader of the twelve disciples; he is prominent throughout Jesus ‘ ministry and an active participant in many of the most significant and well-known events. His confession at Caesarea Philippi in Matthew 16: 16 that Jesus is the Messiah earns him the promise that he is the rock on whom Jesus will found his church. (The claim of the Papacy rests on an interpretation of these words.) Peter ‘s threefold denial of Christ at the time of the trial is also famous. In the Resurrection stories Peter is said in the Gospels to have been granted a personal appearance of the risen Christ. In the Acts of the Apostles Peter is the leader of the Jerusalem church; the first half of that book is largely devoted to the travels, teachings, and miracles of Peter. His prominence as a pillar of the church is also clear in Paul ‘s writings. Two New Testament letters bear his name. Several second-century works also attribute their authorship to Peter, including the apocryphal Preaching of Peter. It is not surprising to find that many legends and traditions gathered around the name of Peter, the largest collection of them outside the Bible being in the second-century Acts of Peter. This apocryphal work is not available in its entirety but sufficient from it survives to enable scholars to reconstruct at least part of the original.