Peter: Disciple to Apostle

Monday, October 5, 2009: John 18:17

Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.”

Acts 4:10

Let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.
Background: The first verse was after Jesus Christ was taken by the officers of the chief priests: the second, before the 70 top leaders (Sanhedrin) after the lame man was healed in the Name of Christ.
What made Peter so bold? He had witnessed the resurrected Christ and was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009: John 18:25

Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not!”

Acts 4:11

This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’
First Peter tells the top people of the Jews that they crucified Christ but God raised Him from the dead, now he tells them Christ is the chief cornerstone of prophecy. What did peter call them? Peter called them the builders who rejected Christ as a stone in the building of God.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009: John 18:26–27

One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed.

Acts 4:12

Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
After denying being Christ’s disciple, the apostle Peter now makes a defining and exclusive statement. What is so exclusive about it? There is NO other name by which we must be saved. Anything or anyone different just will not get you to heaven, no matter what.

Thursday, October 8, 2009: 1 Peter 3:18

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit
What is the implication of ‘once’? Christ died once, never to die again: He’s alive forevermore.

Friday, October 9, 2009: 1 Peter 2:22–24

“Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
Peter was Christ’s disciple and lived with Him three years. How does Peter sum up Christ? Christ committed no sin and there was no lie in His mouth. He took our sins on His own body: no one else did.

Peter and the Risen Christ

Monday, April 6, 2009: Matthew 26:74

Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.

Background: When Jesus Christ was awaiting trial, Peter went cautiously to see events as they unfolded. He was recognized as one of the disciples, but denied the accusations.

How did Peter hope to prove that he did not know the Lord? Peter cursed and swore, a trait missing in Christ’s disciples.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009: John 21:6-7a

And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord.

Background: After the resurrection, Peter and John made an attempt to go back to fishing and caught nothing all night.

How did John recognize the Lord? John recognized the miracle, not the Man.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009: John 21:18-19

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.

This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

Background: After asking Peter to ‘feed My lambs,’ Jesus Christ prophesied about Peter’s death.

Did the repentant Peter follow his Lord? Peter, knowing how he would die, nevertheless followed his Lord.

Thursday, April 9, 2009: Acts 2:36

Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

Background: after the day of Pentecost, Peter addressed thousands. Some of them were the very ones who crucified the Lord.

What was Peter’s change? Peter boldly declared Jesus to be Lord and Christ, the promised Messiah.

Friday, April 10, 2009: Acts 4:10, 12

Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Background: Peter healed a lame man who begged at the temple and was brought before the leaders of his people to answer.

What was Peter’s bold declaration? Peter stated that they crucified Jesus Christ, that God raised Him, and in His name the lame beggar was healed.