We’ll make a man out of you yet: The masculinity of Peter in the book of Acts

Eric Stewart

doi:10.4102/hts.v72i4.3433

Abstract

According to scholars of masculinity studies, manhood is won or lost through the performance of gender-based expectations. In any given culture, masculinities exist in hierarchal relationships. The author of the book of Acts shows Peter demonstrating elite masculine performances in the narrative of Acts. Through Peter’s self-control, and the lack of self-control on the part of those who oppose him, his persuasive, public speech and his ability to control others in the text, Peter exhibits a masculinity that contradicts early portraits of Peter found in 1 Corinthians and the gospels of Matthew, Mark and John. Peter is not overcome by other people in Acts, and he demonstrates a masculinity that is complicit with the types of masculinities prized by the Romans and often considered out of the reach of foreigners.

Highlights

As recently as 12 years ago, Moore (2003:1–22), surveying work on masculinity and the New Testament, documented only 11 such studies
Considering how important dominance over and violence towards others are to defining Roman manhood, that the apostles prevail in speech against their opponents, and that they represent a supernatural agent who has the last word regarding violence in the text, Acts constructs a situation in which to be aligned with the ultimate masculine power (God) provides access to masculine display
He upholds Roman hegemonic values of masculinity through his control of self, his public speech and his domination of others. He is a Judean, an ethnicity that should mark him as not quintessentially masculine from the Roman perspective, the author contrasts him with other Judeans in that he is not marked by excessive passion, fear or an inability to control his emotions

Summary

Introduction

As recently as 12 years ago, Moore (2003:1–22), surveying work on masculinity and the New Testament, documented only 11 such studies. Roman men expressed masculinity in a variety of ways: through physical domination of and violence towards others, through cultivation of certain virtues, through oratorical performance and rhetorical dominance of others, and through various displays of status. Considering how important dominance over and violence towards others are to defining Roman manhood, that the apostles prevail in speech against their opponents, and that they represent a supernatural agent who has the last word regarding violence in the text, Acts constructs a situation in which to be aligned with the ultimate masculine power (God) provides access to masculine display.

Results

Conclusion