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| Andrew | James | John | Jude Thaddeus | Peter | Phillip | Thomas (todo) | Simon the Zealot |
| Matthew (todo) | Jude (todo) | Judas (todo) | Bartholomew (todo) | Mary | Joseph | Nathaniel (todo) |
Simon Peter, or “Cephas” is the best-known apostle, only Paul comes close in general popularity and recognition There are many legends surrounding Peter, some of them have some historical backing, and some are just plain fantastic stories. For two thousand years Peter has been controversial – not only among the apostles in the time of Jesus, but even to this day with recent archeological findings. According to the gospels, he was the brother of Andrew, and both were fishermen from Bethsaida. When called to serve in 26AD, Peter was 32, already married with three children living with Andrew, and Peter’s mother-in-law in a small house in Bethsaida. The brothers Peter and Andrew along with brothers James and John were partners in the fishing-business before meeting Jesus.
Figure 1 - Duccio di Buoninsegna. Maestà: The Calling of St. Peter and St. Andrew
So much has been written regarding Peter outside the Bible, ranging from “Gospel of Peter” supposedly written by him, to “Acts of Peter” which were written about him. Peter’s martyrdom is not recorded in the Bible, yet most people would say that Peter was crucified upside down on Vatican hill in Rome. Where does this dear and affirmed tradition come from if not from the Bible? For the most part the early church fathers agree on the tradition, and they generally cite the same apocryphal sources. Using these sources we can make a general outline of Peter’s life after Jesus’ ascension. Most of the early church writers give testimony to his martyrdom by these legends including Origen, Eusebius of Caesarea, Clement I of Rome, Ignatius, and Irenaeus.
Within two or three years of the Ascension, Peter traveled from Jerusalem to Antioch (in Turkey) to take leadership of the growing church. When he arrived, the local leaders of the church Niceta and Aquilla warmly greeted Peter and presented him with the “Throne of Anitioch”. Being “enthroned” was more than simply a commanding seat of authority, it represented divinely ordained authority. The Antioch church reasoned that since David sat on a throne, the high priests sat on a throne, so Peter should have a throne. This throne “the chair of Moses” was made for Peter. When he accepted the position and sat in his throne, he became the “Prince of the Apostles”, a tradition that holds till this day.
Outside of the church, the people of Antioch were set against Peter by the slander of his personal nemesis Simon-Magus. Crowds of his supporters and detractors gathered calling for Peter to show himself and prove his powers. Peter wastes no time and immediately addresses the blindness of Antioch by praying “O God, Father Almighty, I yield to thee thankings in this that thou hast worthily fulfilled the promises of thy blessed Son, by which all creatures may know that thou art one only God in heaven and in earth”, his prayer is answered with a miracle of light healing the multitudes. This miracle leads to the baptizing of ten thousand in one week. Of historical note, the text claims that Peter presided over Antioch for seven years, then onto Rome where he presided over that church for 25 years. If Peter died in 67AD, then his arrival in Rome would have been around 42AD, and his arrival in Antioch would have been 35AD, or about 2 years after Jesus death.
One of the most famous and entertaining is The Acts of Peter and Paul, written sometime in the early 200s. The story starts with the Jews of Rome lobbying Emperor Nero to proclaim Paul as an enemy of the state in all of Italy. Word of this reached Peter (already in Rome) who sent a warning letter to Paul. Paul immediately came to Rome (details of Paul’s trip detailed in his section) and upon meeting Peter they had a long tearful reunion. Meanwhile Simon the Magician was employed by the Jews to scheme against the two apostles. The next day a crowd had gathered to question Peter and Paul, Paul addressed them first. They turned at Peter accusing him of breaking the Laws of Moses. Peter powerfully responded that Jesus was the promise of the law, and that by his fulfilling of it, the faithful Jew could return to the grace that was given to Abraham, Issac and Jacob. Apparently this speech swayed the crowd and many converted to Christianity.
Simon the Magician was irritated by Peter and Paul’s presence and began a public one-upmanship with Peter. Simon made statues move, idols to laugh, and made himself levitate among other miracles. Not to be outdone, Peter healed the sick, cured the blind, exorcised demons, and “sometimes he even raised the dead” (worded as though this were trivial). This rivalry soon caught the attention of Nero who called the two to his court. Before Nero, Simon performed many shape-shifting tricks assuming different forms to convince Nero that he was divine. Peter revealed the trickery of Simon, but Simon resolutely stated to Nero that he was truly the Son of God, that Peter was wrong, and that Peter and Paul be condemned for their conspiracy against Nero.
The three debated aggressively, until Nero asked Peter who Christ was. Peter responded that the letters of Pilate be brought in has defense (there also exists an apocryphal writing called The Acts of Pilate detailed in Pilate’s section). The account of Pilate confirmed Peter’s words with the authority of a Roman Prefect. Nero started to favor Peter. In desperation Simon the Magician stated that he had enough of Peter and that the time had come for Simon’s angels to avenge these insults. Peter further infuriated Simon telling Simon to bring forth the angels and so forcing Simon’s hand. Simon called on dogs to come attack Peter, to which Peter replied, “so these are the angels that you command?” No doubt there was a good round of laughter in the court.
In a last attempt to salvage his name, Simon proclaimed that if Nero would permit a tower to be made, Simon would show all that his angels would come and bring him to heaven. But, in a gesture of his boastfulness, he should first be beheaded in the dark – and that on the 3rd day he would rise again – proclaiming that he was the Son of God. Nero permitted the beheading, but, apparently this was an elaborate scheme and a ram was beheaded instead. Wondrously Simon appeared resurrected, as promised, on the 3rd day. Still not swayed Nero continued to allow the debate between Peter, Paul and Simon. The debate dragged on, but, Simon continued to lie himself into a corner. Finally, Nero called on Simon to make good on his tower boast.
On the morning of Simon’s tower-performance, Peter and Paul were made to be present. As the spectacle started, Paul turned to Peter “It is my custom to get on my knees and pray at such a circumstance, and yours to produce the effect, after all you were first taken in hand by Jesus”. Simon climbed the tower, stretched out his arms and began to fly. Nero was convinced, Peter protested, but Nero dismissed him with “It is you and Paul who are the deceivers… and still you are persisting?! Look, there he is going up to heaven”
Peter looked to Paul, who with tears in his eyes replied, “What are you waiting for? Do what you must! I hear Jesus is calling us already” Nero smiled as he knew the two were defeated, Peter spoke “We’re not crazy” Turning to Simon who was gleefully flying through the piazza, “Angels of Satan we command you to stop your deceit” At that moment the angels departed, Simon fell to the ground and died at the place now called Sacra Via (“Sacred Way”). Nero held Peter and Paul responsible for his death, and after waiting 3 days for a “2nd Resurrection” Nero sentenced the apostles to death by the games in the Coliseum. His assistant Agrippa intervened, suggesting that Paul be beheaded and Peter be crucified for murder. And so it was. Paul was beheaded on Ostesian Road. Peter was being prepared for crucifixition when a crowd of people intervened, Peter spoke out “people, some time ago I was on my way out of the city and I met the Lord. I asked where he was going, ‘To Rome to be crucified’ the Lord said. I said ‘but you have been crucified once and for all’. The Lord replied to me ‘I saw you leaving in fear so I came to stand in for you’” Peter was shamed and turned back to Rome knowing he would be crucified. There he demanded to be crucified upside down as he was not worthy to receive the same death of Jesus.
The chapter closes with “And immediately there appeared men glorious and strange in appearance; and they said: ‘We are here, on account of the holy and chief apostles, from Jerusalem’. And they, along with Marcellus, an illustrious man, who, having left Simon the Magician, had believed in Peter, took up his body secretly, and put it under the terebinth near the place for the exhibition of sea-fights in the place called the Vatican.”
[burial details – honey
etc]
[mystery of 1984s]
There is a variant of this story. The variant reports that Peter’s prayer for Simon’s fall was granted and Simon fell. Instead of his body breaking into three pieces, this story records that his leg was broken in three places. The crowd rallies for Peter and begins to stone Simon. An angel of the Devil finishes off Simon. Several days later Peter is to be arrested for converting the wives of Roman Senate politicians. He tries to escape Rome but meets Jesus on the way, and like the other version, he is shamed and returns to be arrested. Peter is crucified upside down requesting he be crucified this way because he wasn’t worthy to die the same way of his Lord. When Peter was executed, his wife who had journeyed with him throughout his preaching was thrown to the beasts in the Roman arena, possibly the Colluseum or the Circus Maximus.
Figure 2 - Lippi, Filippino: Disputation with Simon Magus and the Crucifiction of St. Peter
The Bible contains two books that were written by Peter: namely 1st and 2nd Peter. Aside from these two, there are many books and writings said to be of his hand. At various times these writings were considered as scripture by various Christian churches. Here is a brief synopsis of these books, and while some border on the ridiculous they are all wonderfully entertaining:
Circa 130 AD The story opens by telling a more detailed account of the Transfiguration and in this tale Peter is shown heaven and hell. Much of the text is focused on the tortures of hell, with the emphasis that the pains have been caused by mans own wickedness. The depiction is similar to the tortured souls in The Book of Enoch, and provides a ready inspiration for Dante’s Inferno. One humorous note is the book details a special area of hell “...for charging interest upon interest”. The book concludes with a meeting of Peter, Jesus, Moses and Elias in heaven, this meeting apparently allowed Moses and Elias (since they now “met the Lord”) to elevate into the second heaven. The various “heavens” are not explained in our current Bible, even though they are hinted at in various places – such as Paul’s writings. The seven heavens (written about in this book, and Biblical verses) are from the Book of Enoch, which was once part of the common scripture collection, interestingly that book was quoted by Jesus more than any other scripture book.
[Clement has peter teaching in Tripoli, and also has peter in Ceasarea just prior to James death Celemtine Recognitions]
The Acts of Peter and Andrew
A continuation of The Acts of Andrew, this book has many fanciful tales. Early on in the book Peter commands a camel to pass through the eye of a needle. A challenging unbeliever demands that he too be able to do such miracles. Peter says that he may, but must first believe in Jesus. The challenger calls for a camel and needle, commands the camel, but the camel is only able to get its head through the needle. “Why only its head?” asked the challenger. The camel answered, “Because you are not yet baptized”. A speaking camel with its neck through the eye of a needle was apparently enough to sway the challenger, and 1,000 other towns people.
Circa 190 AD –This book is a slightly more detailed account of the Resurrection, with the distinction that Joseph of Arimethia is called “friend of the Lord, and of Pilate”, it also confirms that Mary Magdalene was the first at the empty tomb. The fragmented gospel is abruptly ended with “But I Simon Peter and Andrew my brother took our nets and went to the sea; and there was with us Levi the son of Alphaeus, whom the Lord …” [is this the end?]
The Acts of Peter and the Twelve
Apostles
Circa Early 300s [pg 287]. The existing copies have missing words and sentences, but the legend takes place soon after the Resurrection, but before the Ascension as it mentions only eleven apostles. The legend depicts the eleven preparing to set off for their respective missions from the city Habitation. There starts an allegory where Peter meets Lithargoel a pearl merchant. Rich people who think that his pearls are worthless shun the merchant. Poor people crowd his shop even though they can’t afford his pearls still they are satisfied with only a glimpse at them. The merchant offers the pearls for free if the poor would go visit his city “The City of Nine Gates”. To get to the city of nine-gates, the people must give up all worldly possessions so that they will be unhindered on their journey. The merchant explains that they will be their protected by him while they go on this journey.
The eleven Apostles set out for the city, and the pearl merchant is revealed to be Jesus. When they arrive at the city, they meet up with a doctor. This doctor wants the apostles to heal all the poor. They doctor gives each medicine to be administered to the poor, then reveals that he is Jesus. The disciples are told to return to Habitation and to carry out their orders.
Circa 200 AD [528] (Note that this is different than The Acts of Peter) The legend opens on a Sunday with the local townspeople of Bethsaida bringing their sick to Peter for cures. This would suggest that the story takes place before Peter goes to Antioch in 35AD. Someone from the crowd asks Peter, “Why is it that you do not help your own daughter who is grown and paralyzed?” Peter didn’t answer the man but instead brought out his daughter to the crowd. Peter cured her, amazing the people who then were converted.
Later, as the crippled girl was bathing with her mother, a man named Ptolemy, became infatuated with her. After his advances were refused, Ptolemy then abducted her. As Ptolemy was leading her away to rape her, Peter prayed that she should become paralyzed, foiling Ptolemy’s plans. Ptolemy was punished with blindness for his deed. He sought to hang himself when a voice called out telling him “God did not give his vessels for corruption and pollution. But it was necessary for you since you believed in me, and that you did not defile my virgin since I have become one Spirit for you both. But arise and go to Peter quickly, for there you will see my glory”. Upon reaching Peter, his blindness was cured, and Ptolemy was faithful. When he died soon after, he willed his land to Peter for the Church’s benefit.
Privately, Peter commands the daughter to return to her infirmity saying “this is profitable for us both”. Peter explains his decision by saying years before Jesus warned him that so long as she was healthy, she would men astray by her beauty. The actual text of the story, as translated, has this last scene happening before the girl was attacked, yet this sequence makes no logical sense and seems to be a grammatical error of either translation of tense, or an error by some long ago copyist.
The Letter
of Peter to Phillip [431]
Circa 150-200 AD The “letter” itself is only one paragraph’s worth, and the remainder of this document is really a discussion of this letter. The letter itself reads: […]
Figure 3 - Peter's House in Capernaum