Illustration created for this project.

Simon Peter — the fisherman; the Rock

A fisherman of Bethsaida on the Sea of Galilee and the brother of Andrew, Simon was renamed Peter — 'the rock' — by Jesus. Foremost among the Twelve, he preached at Pentecost, led the early Jerusalem church, and by tradition was martyred in Rome. Two New Testament letters bear his name.

Role: Apostle

Also known as: Simon, Cephas, Peter

Lived: c. AD 1 – c. AD 64

Belonged to: The Twelve Apostles, Israelites (Hebrews)

Born: Bethsaida

Death: Traditionally martyred (crucified) at Rome under Nero, c. AD 64–67

What we know — and how we know it

Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 5 Archaeology — physical evidence · 2 Scholarly — supported scholarly belief · 2

Origin & birthplace

BibleA fisherman from Bethsaida, a town on the Sea of Galilee.

John 1:44

↳ Bethsaida

BibleHe kept a house at Capernaum, where Jesus based his Galilean ministry.

Mark 1:29

↳ Capernaum

Family & lineage

BibleSon of Jonah (John) and brother of the apostle Andrew.

Matthew 16:17; John 1:40

↳ Andrew

BibleHe was married — Jesus healed his mother-in-law of a fever.

Mark 1:30–31

Tribe & people

ScholarlyScripture never names Peter's tribe; as a Galilean Jew his ancestral lineage is not recorded.

Absence of data in the Gospels

Life, role & deeds

BibleRenamed Cephas / Peter ('the rock') by Jesus, and foremost among the Twelve.

Matthew 16:18; John 1:42

Berthold Werner — Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons) ArchaeologyA modest 1st-century house at Capernaum, venerated as Peter's from very early times, lies beneath a later octagonal Byzantine church.

'House of St Peter', Insula Sacra at Capernaum, beneath the octagonal Byzantine church: Franciscan excavations from 1968 by V. Corbo and S. Loffreda; V. Corbo, Cafarnao I: Gli edifici della citta (Studium Biblicum Franciscanum, Jerusalem, 1975); domus-ecclesia phase with early Christian graffiti

↳ Capernaum

Death & legacy

ScholarlyEarly tradition holds that Peter was crucified in Rome under Nero, by his own request head-downward.

Tertullian; the 2nd-c. Acts of Peter

↳ Rome

ArchaeologyA 1st-century grave in the necropolis beneath St Peter's Basilica is argued by some excavators to be his; the identification is debated.

Vatican necropolis excavations beneath the Confessio of St Peter's (under Pius XII, 1940-49): the Tropaion/Aedicula against the 'Red Wall'; official report B. M. Apollonj Ghetti, A. Ferrua, E. Josi & E. Kirschbaum, Esplorazioni sotto la confessione di San Pietro in Vaticano (Vatican, 1951); disputed bone/graffiti identification by M. Guarducci, The Tomb of St. Peter (1960)

↳ Rome

Where in scripture

Matthew Mark Luke John Acts Galatians 1 Peter 2 Peter

Walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers: Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.
Matthew 4:18

When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever.
Matthew 8:14

Now the names of the twelve apostles are these. The first, Simon, who is called Peter; Andrew, his brother; James the son of Zebedee; John, his brother;
Matthew 10:2

Peter answered him and said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters.”
Matthew 14:28

He said, “Come!” Peter stepped down from the boat, and walked on the waters to come to Jesus.
Matthew 14:29

Peter answered him, “Explain the parable to us.”
Matthew 15:15

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Matthew 16:16

Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 16:17

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.

Matthew 4:18 Matthew 8:14 Matthew 10:2 Matthew 14:28 Matthew 14:29 Matthew 15:15 Matthew 16:16 Matthew 16:17 Matthew 16:18 Matthew 17:1 Matthew 17:25 Matthew 17:26 Matthew 18:21 Matthew 19:27 Mark 1:16 Mark 3:16 Mark 5:37 Mark 8:29 Mark 9:2 Mark 9:5 Mark 10:28 Mark 11:21 Mark 13:3 Mark 16:6 …and 40 more mentions

Family

In their own words — 76 recorded sayings

“And Peter, answering, said to him, Lord, if it is you, give me the order to come to you on the water.” — Matthew 14:28

“But when he saw the wind he was in fear and, starting to go down, he gave a cry, saying, Help, Lord.” — Matthew 14:30

“Then Peter said to him, Make the story clear to us.” — Matthew 15:15

“And Simon Peter made answer and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” — Matthew 16:16

“And Peter, protesting, said to him, Be it far from you, Lord; it is impossible that this will come about.” — Matthew 16:22

“And Peter made answer and said to Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if you will let me, I will make here three tents, one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” — Matthew 17:4

“He says, Yes. And when he came into the house, Jesus said to him, What is your opinion, Simon? from whom do the kings of the earth get payment or tax? from their sons or from other people?” — Matthew 17:25