Peter
He walked on water, sank, denied Jesus — and was trusted anyway.
New Testament · 1st century · Gospels, Acts, 1 Peter, 2 Peter · Also known as Simon, Simon Peter, Cephas
About Peter
Simon was a fisherman from Galilee when Jesus called him to follow. Jesus named him Peter — "rock." Bold and impulsive, he declared Jesus to be the Christ, walked on water, and then denied knowing him three times on the night of his arrest. After the resurrection, Jesus restored him by the sea, and Peter became a leading voice of the early church.
Peter, his brother Andrew, and James and John were fishermen on the Sea of Galilee. "Peter" (Greek Petros) and "Cephas" (Aramaic) both mean "rock." He appears more often than any other disciple in the Gospels.
The story
Fishers of men
Simon and his brother Andrew were casting nets into the Sea of Galilee. Jesus said, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." "And they straightway left their nets, and followed him."
Matthew 4:18-20
Walking on water
In the night, Jesus came walking on the sea. "Come," he said. Peter stepped out and walked on the water. "But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me." Jesus caught him.
Matthew 14:22-33
Thou art the Christ
"Whom say ye that I am?" Peter answered: "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church."
Matthew 16:13-18
Before the cock crow
On the night Jesus was arrested, Peter followed to the high priest’s courtyard — and three times denied knowing him. The cock crowed. "The Lord turned, and looked upon Peter… And Peter went out, and wept bitterly."
Luke 22:54-62
Lovest thou me?
After the resurrection, by a charcoal fire on the shore, Jesus asked Peter three times: "Lovest thou me?" Three times Peter answered. Three times Jesus gave him a task: "Feed my sheep."
John 21:1-17
Three thousand
At Pentecost, the man who had denied Jesus by a fire stood up before a crowd in Jerusalem and preached. "The same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls."
Acts 2:14-41
Key moments
- Called by the sea: "Follow me." (Matthew 4:19)
- Walks on water: "Lord, save me." (Matthew 14:29-31)
- Confesses Jesus: "Thou art the Christ." (Matthew 16:16)
- Denies Jesus: Three times, before the cock crowed. (Luke 22:61-62)
- Restored: "Feed my sheep." (John 21:17)
- Preaches at Pentecost: About three thousand believe. (Acts 2:41)
Questions about Peter
In meetBible these answers are given in Peter’s voice. They are written by hand and checked against Scripture.
Why did you sink?
Matthew is precise: "When he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me." Jesus "immediately… stretched forth his hand, and caught him," and asked, "Wherefore didst thou doubt?" My eyes moved from Jesus to the wind.
Why did you deny Jesus?
The Gospels record what happened — three denials in the courtyard, the cock crowing, Jesus turning to look at me, and my bitter weeping. They don’t spell out my motives. The setting suggests fear: Jesus had just been arrested, and I was recognised. But that is reading between the lines.
What did Jesus say to you after he rose?
By a fire on the shore, he asked me three times, "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?" The third time grieved me. "Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee." Each time, he gave me work: "Feed my sheep." Three denials. Three questions. A future.
Connected people
Read it yourself
Start with Matthew 14; John 21.