CHARACTER STUDY OF THE APOSTLE PETER

FGBMFI-Atomic Hills Chapter Meeting.

Kofi D. Bedzra
(Member)

January, 2010
CHARACTER STUDY OF THE APOSTLE PETER
What is the meaning of character?

• The set of qualities that makes somebody or something distinctive (unique) or interesting
or attractive.

APOSTEL PETER

The man with three names:

Simon (Simeon) – which means “Hearing”.

Cephas (Translated as Peter) – which means “Rock”. This name was given to him by Jesus
Christ (John 1:42). He had only one brother Andrew and fathered by Jonas Greek form of Jonah
(Matt. 12: 39-41) and in the revised version called John – John 21:15-17.

He was a man without any formal education and trained as a fisherman. He became an orphan at
a young age and has to be raised by Zebedee and Salome (Mark 15:40, 16:1). It was at this
point in his life that he had his religious training with Zebedee who had two sons (James and
John).

As a Galilean, he had the following qualities:

 Reputation for independence

 Very Frank

 Transparent

 Energy which often runs out into turbulence (uncontrolled change).

He was a generous man and accommodating as he did to Christ (Mark 1:29, 36; 2:1). He was
the oldest among the disciples and the first to be called after Christ’s baptism.

Among the 12 disciples, he was the one that uttered (spoke) that notable profession of “FAITH”
(John 6:66-69, Matt. 16:13-20) and was gifted with spiritual revelation (Matt.17:1-9). Because
of this gift he became the spiritual leader of the twelve.

Examples:

 In preparing a place to keep the feast with the disciples (Luke 22:7-13)

 He accompanied Jesus Christ from the guest chamber to the garden of Gethsemane (Luke
22:39-42) and was part of the witnessing of the transfiguration.

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  He was the only one willing to do anything to be with Christ as he cut-off the ear of
Malchus (Luke 22:47-51)

 Was at the judgment hall (Luke 22:52-61)

 The results of his bitter grief (Luke 22:62)

From these circumstances, you could see that he was the man with the most courage

(John 20:1-10).

• He was the first person Christ reveled himself unto after the resurrection thereby
restoring the favour that he had upon him (Luke 24:34, I Cor. 15:5)

This gave Peter the confidence and the leadership mantel was thus handed over to him once
again.

 The Ascension day (Acts 1:15-26)

 Replacing Judas

 On the day of Pentecost

One interesting thing about the Apostle was, upon all these, he had fear within.

After the day of Pentecost when the spirit came upon them let’s see what happened:

BEFORE PENTECOST AFTER PENTECOST

Unreliable Steadfast (Firm)

Changing Trusted guide

Less self confident Director of fellowship of believers

Had rash courage and weak timidity Preacher of Christ in Jerusalem and abroad

After Pentecost, the apostle went into recession (Nothing was heard about him).

He was the first to be imprisoned during the persecution of the Christians (Acts 3) and he boldly
defended himself and the others (Not like the way he denied Christ).

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Some remarkable attitudes of him afterwards were how he became:

 Humble

 Stopped condemnation in the case of the gentiles

 Taking responsibility for his actions (Acts 11:1-18)

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