What can we learn from Peter in the Bible?  I will be giving you a summary of the many stories about Peter in the Bible that we know and love. I will show you that you can still fulfill God’s plan for your life even if you fall away or make mistakes. 

Jesus is a loving and wonderful Savior all you need to do is repent, He is standing there with outstretched hands waiting for you to return to Him.

What Are The Stories Of Peter In The Bible

The story of Peter the fisherman in the Bible is quite interesting t, o me.  I never really paid much attention to his journey, until I heard a message preached about him.  Then as I thought more and more about it, I realized what a transformation he must have had in his life. 

He started great, then He went from being afraid and denying Jesus to standing up and defending the 120 that were in the upper room when they received the Holy Spirit. I realized how God can empower us through the Holy Spirit and give us spiritual boldness to declare the Gospel. 

It’s not only about how we start, but also the journey in between and most importantly how we finish.

Jesus Calls Peter Out Of The Boat

Matthew 4:18-22 NLT

18 One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 

19 Jesus calledout to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” 

20 And they left their nets at once and followed him.

21 A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. 

22 They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.

Through my study to find out who Peter was in the Bible. I found that Peter and Andrew already knew who Jesus was, they knew the person He was because He was preaching in the area. 

Peter didn’t hesitate when Jesus called him to be a fisher of men.  It says that he followed immediately, they left their business and family behind to serve Jesus.

That is an amazing example, Peter didn’t make any excuses as to why he couldn’t follow Jesus, he was obedient right away and didn’t give it a second thought.  That’s how we should live our lives for Christ.  We need to follow and be obedient to Jesus when He speaks to us through the Holy Spirit or His Word.

Peter Walks On Water

Matthew 14:22-32 NLT

22 Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. 

23 After sending them home, he went up into the

hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.

24 Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. 

25 About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. 

26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”

27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”

28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”

29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said.

So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 

30 But when he saw the strong[c] wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.

31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”

32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped.

Peter started in faith or he wouldn’t have asked Jesus to tell him to come so that he could walk on the water.  But as this happens to many of us…we start in faith, then we start to look at all the problems and trouble around us as Peter did.

We take our eyes off Jesus and start to focus on our troubles, and we start to lose faith and fear takes over.  But how wonderful is Jesus that although Peter was fearful Jesus still stepped in and saved Peter when he called out to Him. 

We should focus on the power of Jesus rather than the magnitude of the problem because there is nothing too big for God.

Upon This Rock I Build My Church

Matthew 16:13-20 NLT

13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

14 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”

15 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”

16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 

18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’) and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. 

19 And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”

20 Then he sternly warned the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

In this story, about Peter in the Bible, he received the true revelation of who Jesus was from God and that’s what God built the church on.  Jesus praised Peter for that revelation that he received from God.

We also need to receive revelation of who Jesus is to us.  Yes, we know who He is based on the Word of God, but have you received the revelation from the Holy Spirit? That’s what gets into your spirit, and no one can ever sway you or change your mind.

For you to apply what the Word of God says to your life you need to receive understanding and revelation from the Holy Spirit, not just knowing it in your mind but knowing it in your heart.

Mark 11:23 NLT says I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart.

It’s a heart thing, not a head thing, our mind gives us conflicting feelings, one minute it agrees then it gives us another thought of doubt. When you know the truth in your heart, that’s when you can move mountains.

Jesus Rebukes Peter

Matthew 16:21-23 NLT

21 From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead.

22 But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to you!”

23 Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”

Look at this…didn’t Jesus just praise Peter for the revelation that he received from God and now Jesus is rebuking him.  Do you see how quickly things can change when we start to walk after the flesh instead of the Spirit? 

Peter no longer had God's perspective. He was using his human perspective; he was being controlled by his emotions because he didn’t want Jesus to die.  But Jesus knew that is what had to happen to fulfill God's plan.

The plan that God has for us doesn’t always go the way that we think it should.  We only see the now, but God sees the entire picture and his plan is always for our good.

Matthew 26

Matthew 26:50-54 NLT

50 Jesus said, “My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for.”

Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him. 

51 But one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword and struck the high priest’s slave, slashing off his ear.

52 “Put away your sword,” Jesus told him. “Those who use the sword will die by the sword. 

53 Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands[a] of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? 

54 But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?”

What did Peter do in the Bible? He was the man that pulled the sword and cut the high priest’s slave’s ear.  He again allowed his emotions to get the best of him, but I think it’s because he loved Jesus so much and didn’t want to lose him. 

Peter still lacked the understanding that Jesus had to die for God’s plan to be fulfilled which was to offer salvation to the human race.

Peter Denies Jesus

Matthew 26:69-75 NLT

69 Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl came over and said to him, “You were one of those with Jesus the Galilean.”

70 But Peter denied it in front of everyone. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.

71 Later, out by the gate, another servant girl noticed him and said to those standing around, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

72 Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. “I don’t even know the man,” he said.

73 A little later some of the other bystanders came over to Peter and said, “You must be one of them; we can tell by your Galilean accent.”

74 Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!” And immediately the rooster crowed.

75 Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he went away, weeping bitterly.

Earlier in this chapter, Peter was defending Jesus. Now he’s denying Him because he was afraid?  Once Peter realized what Jesus told him would happen happened, he must have been devastated to think that he denied the Son of God and he wept. 

When I think of Peter weeping and this is just my thought, I picture him repenting and crying and asking God to forgive him for denying His Son. That’s what I would have done. He must have been heartbroken because he truly loved Jesus. 

He was dealing with a lot of emotions, they were taking Jesus away to kill Him, and he was alone and scared.  We shouldn’t judge others because we don’t know how we would react in that same situation.

I’m skipping over a lot of other stories and interesting facts about Peter in the Bible as there are many.  If you’re interested in learning more about Peter, then it would be a good idea to do a character study on him and take a more in-depth look into his journey.

Peter Receives The Holy Spirit

Acts 2:14-21 NLT

14 Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. 

15 These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that. 

16 No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:

17 ‘In the last days,’ God says,
    ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
    Your young men will see visions,
    and your old men will dream dreams.

18 In those days I will pour out my Spirit
    even on my servants—men and women alike—
    and they will prophesy.

19 And I will cause wonders in the heavens above
    and signs on the earth below—
    blood and fire and clouds of smoke.

20 The sun will become dark,
    and the moon will turn blood red
    before that great and glorious day of the Lord arrives.

21 But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord
    will be saved.’

So, this is where the 120 went to the upper room to wait to receive the Holy Spirit as they were instructed.

That was Peter who boldly stood up and preached the gospel to the crowd and that day 3000 in all were baptized and added to the church.

I found it very inspiring to watch Peter's journey, it shows that we are not perfect, we have and will make mistakes because we are striving for perfection.

After the resurrection of Jesus, Peter preached boldly and performed many miracles in the name of Jesus. 

Why Is Peter Important In Christianity

Peter’s life and actions show us that the Holy Spirit can empower us to accomplish the tasks and plans that God has for each one of us.  Depend on the Holy Spirit and He will give you the boldness, strength, and spiritual insight that you need.

Which story about Peter was your favorite?