Peter was a partner in the fishing business with James and John. We was energetic, enthusiastic, impulsive, impetuous, a natural born leader,
with a good deal of human nature. He was generally the spokesman of the Twelve. He was introduced to Jesus by his brother Andrew. Jesus gave him the name, "Rock."
Peter was married and his wife went with him in his work as an Apostle. He was present with Jesus at the raising of Jairus' daughter, the Transfiguration, and in the Garden of
Gethsemane. He denied being a follower of Christ at the High Priest's palace after His arrest, as Jesus had said he would. After Jesus' resurrection, He personally appeared to Peter.
Peter became the leader of the early church. He was imprisioned by King Herod Agrippa, but was later released by an angel of the Lord.
Tradition states that he was crucified in Rome at the order of Nero around AD 66- 68. Some place his death in AD 64. It is said he was crucified upside down
at his own request, considering himself unworthy to by crucified in the same matter as the Lord. It is also said that his wife was also killed, and Peter encouraged her to be brave, saying, "Remember, dear, our Lord."
Years earlier, Jesus had told Peter the matter in which he would die:
"The truth is, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked and go wherever you wanted to. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands (his crucifixion), and others will direct you and take you where
you don't want to go." Jesus said this to let him know what kind of death he would die to glorify God. (John 21:18-19).
Peter, himself, knew his time was near in his Epistle of II Peter 1:14, when he said:
"Knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me."
He authored I Peter (ca AD 66) and II Peter (ca AD 67).
