Peter       

      St. Peter originally known as Simon was born sometime around the end of the first century before Christ. Little is known of his life before meeting Jesus, but he came from the village of Bethsaida in Galilee. When he met Jesus he was already married, but he lacked any form of education and he worked with his father and brother catching commercial fish with fish nets in the town of Capernaum. When Jesus asked Simon to become an apostle he changed Simon's name to Cephas which means Petros in Greek and Peter in English.

Peter was one of the three main apostles of Jesus, with John and James. These three important apostles were chosen to be present during certain events with Jesus.

Peter's Life as an Adult

Peter the Apostle, or also known as St. Peter, was "a fisher of men." He was one of Jesus Christ's twelve chosen disciples. He was outspoken and always was the question asker. Peter was always there at the special moments in Jesus' life. For example, throughout his life he saw Jesus heal and heard Him teach. He ate with Jesus, walked with Him, touched Him, sang with Him and saw the dust on Jesus' feet. He saw the Glory of Jesus and saw Him suffer. And Peter then saw the resurrected Jesus, and watched Him ascend. He originally bore the very common Jewish name of Shimeon, Simeon, or Simon (cf. Acts xv. 14; TT Pet. i. 1), the first of these forms being the earliest, and the last the latest. He likewise had the Aramaic honorary surname of Kepha (Gk. Kephas), or "Rock," which was translated into its Greek equivalent Petros, "Peter." Christ himself, however, termed his apostle Peter only thrice, elsewhere using either the name Simon or, in more solemn times, Simon son of John. The phraseology of the Evangelists varies. Mark terms the apostle Simon until he receives the sur name of Peter (Mark iii. 16), after which he is called Peter; and a similar, though less consistent, course is followed by the other two synoptists. In Acts he is called Peter, even when addressed. (Book of Acts) 

http://www.abcsoffaith.com/temp1/stpeter.jpg

"Peter was famous for many things: For being at Jesus' transfiguration, for walking on water at Jesus' bidding, for rebuking Jesus for what seemed to him negative thinking (prompting Jesus' sharp reply "Get behind Me Satan"), for his statement to Jesus during the washing of feet during the Last Supper, for his denials of knowing Jesus when Peter was in the courtyard of the high priest, for drawing a sword when Jesus was being arrested, and for being granted the singular privilege of an individual post-resurrection appearance by Jesus (Luke 24:34, 1Cor 15:5)."

Peters relationship with Jesus

     Andrew brought Peter to meet Jesus and within a day or two Jesus had asked them to follow Him. James and John, another pair of brothers who were also fishermen, were the next two disciples chosen and these four became the closest ones to Jesus, forming an inner circle of sorts. And of the 12, Peter became the group’s informal leader.

     Jesus took a likeing to Peter. But it was his courage that most distinguished him. When Jesus approached the disciples’ boat, walking on the water, it was Peter who got out of the boat and walked across the water toward him. It was Peter who made the first public declaration of the Lords’ true identity as Messiah of Israel. When they were surrounded by a large contingent of armed temple guards on the night of the Lord’s arrest, it was Peter who drew a sword and cut off Malchus’ ear. He was ready to take on the whole bunch. Peter was a very good freind to Jesus and they loved eachother very much.

After Jesus’ death Peter traveled throughout the Middle East spreading the message of Jesus. He also performed miracles by calling on Jesus to help him heal the paralyzed and resurrect the dead. He was in the Council of Jerusalem and always spoke out about Jesus. Even though he was one of the twelve apostles, he thought of himself as the chosen disciple. Peter laid down the foundation of the church and Jesus wanted to make him the leader of the church. That is how he became the first pope. The Bible states: "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it," (Matt. 16:18). Saint Peter died in Rome as a martyr during the reign of Emperor Nero. His feast day is June 29 and his symbols include an upside down cross, a boat, and rooster. Peter is referred to today as the Rock of the Church, because we see him as the first official leader or pope of the Church. Peter was seen as a strong, stable leader of the Church and should be given much credit for the popularity of the Catholic Church today. The leadership role of the Pope was given because of Peter's role after Jesus' death.

St. Peter At The Golden Gate

by: Stanley Cooper

St. Peter at the Golden Gate

Explained, for me it’s much too late

That Heaven’s gate, without a doubt

Was built right there to keep me out

It’s common knowledge, I’m no Saint

But a real bad guy, I surely ain’t

Heaven knows, I’ve done some wrong

But it doesn’t mean I don’t belong

I know I’m not the most devout

But pray, St. Peter, don’t fence me out

I promise I won’t cause chagrin

To those in Heaven, all fenced in

I’ll run a casino for all to enjoy

I’ll run it as pure as an altar boy

And dear St. Peter, I give you this pledge

At Heaven’s casino, I’ll give you an edge

So you see, St. Peter, Heaven can’t wait

What’s needed in Heaven, is me, your soul mate

Do what you can to unlock the key

So together we’ll be, St. Peter and me…

First Denial

The word rendered "servant girl" (NIV) or "maid" (KJV) is the Greek noun paidiske, a diminutive of pais, 'girl,' and in the New Testament is always used of the slave class, "female slave."[4] The girl is looking curiously at him, and Peter can feel her stare. The phrase "looked closely" (NIV) or "earnestly looked" (KJV) is the Greek verb atenizo, "look intently at, stare at."[5]

The girl accuses Peter, "This man was with him." Here again, the verb "was" is in the imperfect tense, meaning that Peter had been an habitual associate of Jesus'.

Immediately, Peter blurts out a denial. The word "denied" is Greek arneomai, "to state that something is not true, 'deny,' " merges into the related meaning, "to disclaim association with a person or event, 'deny, repudiate, disown.' "[6] When Peter says, "I don't know him," it is expressed by the Greek verb which can cover all kinds of knowledge, from information to understanding to intimate acquaintance. Here is seems to be used in the sense of "be intimately acquainted with or stand in close relation to."[7]

Second Denial

Some time elapses, and it seems like this long night will never end. Then a man accuses Peter of being "one of" them. This translates the Greek preposition ek, in the sense of "belong to someone or something."[8] Again, Peter denies it.

Third Denial

Along about morning, when the horizon starts to become light, another man says the same thing. "Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Gallilean." Peter's hillbilly Gallilean accent can't be hidden. The verb used in the man's accusation for "asserted" (NIV) or "confidently" (KJV) is the fairly uncommon Greek verb diischurizomai, "to be emphatic or resolute about something, 'insist, maintain firmly,' "[9] used here and in Acts 12:15; 15:2.

In the scope of a few hours, the courageous spokesman who has promised Jesus he will go to prison and death with him (22:33), is reduced to denying any relationship with the man he has followed for three years. He is in the vicinity of the Master, following "at a distance," but he has been compromised. He has been unfaithful to his closest friend.

by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson 

Bibliography:

http://www.ask.com/pictures?q=Life+Death+of+Peter+the+Apostle&qsrc=6&o=0&l=dir&ni=

http://www.padfield.com/acrobat/asher/apostle-peter.pdf

Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. (1995, c1985). Theological dictionary of the New Testament. Translation of: Theologisches Worterbuch zum Neuen Testament. (835). Grand Rapids, Mich.: W.B. Eerdmans.

Stanley Cooper, (c. 2007). Poem Hunter. Retrieved October 27, 2009 from http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/st-peter-at-the-golden-gate/

Wilson, Dr. Ralph F." #101. Peter's Denial (Luke 22:54-62) ." Jesus Walk. Retrieved October27,2009