A study on the life and ministry of Simon Barjona, Apostle Peter

1. THE ROCK
Examining the Life and Ministry of Simon Peter
Breath of Life International Church, April 2012
“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will
build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
Matthew 16:18

2. Who is Peter?
• Named Simon Barjona
– Son of Jonas, or Jonah, an Israelite
• A “common” man
– Married with a home in Capernaum
– Matthew 8:14; Mark 1:30; Luke 4:38; 1 Corinthians 9:5
– Fisherman, partnered with James and John, in
Bethsaida
– Luke 5:10
– Brother to Andrew
– Well versed in Jewish doctrine (name is Jewish)

3. Simon, The Rock
• Surnamed PETER by Jesus (Simon Peter)
– Means “stone” or “rock”
– Aramaic Cephas
– Greek Petros
– Hebrew Kepha
• Mark 3:14-16
– And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and
that he might send them forth to preach,
– And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:
– And Simon he surnamed Peter

4. Discipleship
• The Call (Matthew 4:13-22; John 1:35-42)
• Revelation (Matthew 16:13-19)
• Walking on Water (Matthew 14:28-31)
• Questions his Teacher (Matthew 18:21-35)
• Foot Washing (John 13:2-11)
• Retaliation for Jesus (John 18:10)
• The Denial of Christ (Mark 14:66-72)
• The Resurrection (Luke 24:1-12; 1 Corinthians
15:3-7)
• The Call to Shepherd (John 21:14-23)

5. The Apostle
• Historically accepted as the first Apostle
ordained by Jesus for the early Church
• Matthew 10:2; Acts 1:13
• Belonged to an elite subset of the Apostles
– Included Peter, James and John (sons of
Zebedee)
• Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9; Mark 9:2-8; Luke
9:28-36)
• Raised damsel from the dead (Mark 5:35-43)
• Prayer at Gethsemane (Mark 14:32-41)

6. Peter and the Early Church
• Delivers sermon on the Day of Pentecost
– Confirms the Holy Ghost
– Acts 2:14-47
• Preaches many open-air sermons
• Builds the church
– First preacher of the Gospel, after fruition
– Message of repentance
– Act of baptism
– Seal of the Holy Ghost, with signs and wonders
following

7. Leadership and Authority
• Lead the effort to select a replacement for
Judas Iscariot
• Acts 1:12-26
• Twice arraigned before the Sanhedrin (with
John)
• Acts 4:7-22
• Acts 5:18-42
• Missionary journeys to evangelize Gentiles
• Acts 9:32-10:2
• Historically accepted as Bishop of Antioch for
seven years

8. Signs, Wonders and Miracles
• Acts 3:7
– Cured a lame beggar
– Led to many converting to Christianity
• Acts 5:1-11
– Ananias and Sapphira
• Acts 5:15-16
– Peter's shadow cures the sick
• Acts 9:36
– Tabitha is resurrected
• Acts 12:6-17
– Rescued by an angel before his trial before Herod

9. Peter and Paul
PETER PAUL
• Blue collar fisherman • White collar
• Informal education philosopher, teacher
• Common man • Highly educated
• Walked with Christ in • Elite, Pharisee
the flesh • Called by Christ to
• Established the Church conversion
• Apostle to the Jews • Set order in the Church
• Apostle to the Gentiles

10. Peter and Paul
• Galatians 1:18-24
– Paul travels to Jerusalem to spend 15 days with
Peter (3 years after his conversion)
• Galatians 2:7-9
– Ministry to the Gentiles assigned to Paul by
Peter
• Galatians 2:11-14
– Cephas (Peter) visits Antioch and is rebuked by
Paul for [seemingly] treating Jewish Christians
different than Gentile believers

11. Peter’s Revelation
• Acts 10:9-16
– Peter reminded that through Christ’s death and
resurrection, a new covenant is established
• Acts 10:34-35
• Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I
perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
• But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh
righteousness, is accepted with him.
• Acts 11:1-11
– Peter recounts his experience

12. Death
• Foretold by Christ (John 21:18-19)
• Died as a martyr
– Christians blamed for the Great Fire of Rome (64
A.D.)
• Crucified upside down
– Sentenced to death by crucifixion
– Felt unworthy to die in the same manner as
Jesus

13. Apostolic Legacy
• Always a student
• Strong follower… Strong leader
• Teachable; Not above correction
• Faithful to Christ, the call, and the Church
• Spiritual father and mentor
• Purity of the Gospel; Clean, clear message
• Signs, wonders and miracles

14. Examining the Life and Ministry of Simon Peter
© Breath of Life International Church, 2012
THE ROCK