Book of Ancient Saints: Volume 1

Saint Peter, the First Pope

  Before Jesus changed his name to Peter, his original name was either Simeon or Simon. He was born 1 AD in Bethsaida, Gaulanitis, Syria, Roman Empire. He was the oldest brother of Saint Andrew. As he grew up, he became a fisherman from Bethsaida in Galiliee. Before Simon met Jesus, his status was married. 

One day, Andrew first found his own brother Simon and told him that he have found the Messiah. Andrew brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, 

 "Your name is Simon, the son of John; you will be called Peter from now on," Jesus changed Simon's name to Peter.  

 One day at Capernaum, as he was casting nets with his brother Andrew, Jesus said to them to come after him and he will make them fishers of men. After that, they abandoned everything and follow Jesus.  

  Jesus entered the house of Peter, and saw his mother-in-law lying in the bed with a high fever. Jesus touched her hand, the fever left Peter's mother-in-law, and she rose and waited on him.  

  One day, after Jesus finished the conversation between him and the rich young man, he looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God!" The disciples were amazed at his words. So Jesus again and said to them in reply, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves," Then who can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible to whoever believes." One time, Peter said: We have given up everything and followed you." And Jesus replied with the threefold promise: "You will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come." (Mark 10:23-30)  

  Peter had an impulsive personality and a sincere love for Jesus: He walked on water, and then lost faith and begun sinking in the water; He proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah, and then was rebuked for rejecting the cross; He promised to be with him and die for him, and then denied him three times; Jesus asked him if he love him thrice, and Peter replied that he love him.  

  At Caesarea Philippi, Jesus changed Simon's name and made him the first Pope, saying: "You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18).  

  After Jesus ascended into heaven, the Holy Spirit descended to the Virgin Mary, Peter, and his disciples. After the descended of the Holy Spirit, they began to build a church in Jerusalem.  

  In the year of 44 AD, King Herod Agrippa attacked the Church in Jerusalem. He ordered his soldiers to arrest Saint James the Great and locked him up in the Antonia Fortress. When Peter heard about the arrest of Saint James the Great, he had himself and the Christians to start praying for Saint James the Great's release. However in the next day, King Herod Agrippa executed Saint James the Great by beheading.   

  The political benefits of executing Saint James the Great had encouraged King Herod Agrippa to seek out the leaders of the Christian Church. He ordered Peter arrested and locked him up in Antonia Fortress under harsh conditions. For eight days, Peter was kept in prison with four squads of soldiers guarding him day and night. Meanwhile, the Christians prayed for Peter's release, but after seeing what had happened to Saint James the Great, it wasn't easy to remain hopeful.   

  Few minutes before midnight, an angel of the Lord went to his prison cell and rescued Peter. On the way to exit of Antonia Fortress, Peter noticed that the soldiers weren't moving. As they reached outside of Antonia Fortress, the angel of the Lord disappeared and Peter hurried to Saint Mark's house. As he entered Mark's house, Peter described how an angel of the Lord rescued him and guided him past sixteen soldiers. He decided to hide for a while and after turning responsibilities over James, he disappeared in the night.   

  When King Herod Agrippa learned of Peter's escape, he ordered his soldiers to find him in the city of Jerusalem. However, Peter wasn't found, so he ordered that all of sixteen of Peter's guards be executed.  

  After the Council of Jerusalem, Peter went to Rome to preach the Gospel. As the Christian Church increased in Rome, Roman Emperor Nero started the persecution against Christians. Peter was arrested and days later, he was crucified upside down on a hill in 64 or 68 AD.  

  Peter was venerated at all Christian denominations. His feast day was June 29 together with Saint Paul the Apostle. Pope Gregory I called him the "Prince of the Apostles."