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Peter's Ministry
 The upside down cross is a symbol of the Apostle Peter. The keys shown are the 'Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven' which Jesus said He would give to Peter in Matthew 16:19 | On Pentecost, Peter was so overwhelmed that he began to speak to the local crowd. The book of Acts tells us that 3,000 people were converted to Christianity because of his passionate preaching. After Pentecost, the 12 disciples traveled from Israel to Russia, Romania, Spain, Ethiopia, and India - to name a few - spreading the Good News of Jesus. Peter remained in Israel during the early years of his service and built up the church there. He was arrested more than once and imprisoned by King Herod, but Peter was rescued by an angel and continued his work. Peter and the apostle John went regularly to the temple in Jerusalem for prayers. Poor people would often sit by the gate to the temple to ask for help. Peter and John had seen a lame beggar there often. One day as they passed him, the beggar asked them for alms (a donation). Peter and John looked at him and said, "Look at us." Peter told the beggar he had no money for him, but told him to stand up and he would be able to walk. Peter grabbed his hand and a miracle happend. The beggar's ankle and foot were healed and he could walk! At first Peter believed that only Jews could become Christians. Peter had a vision while working in the town of Joppa in which a sheet came down from heaven. In it were all different kinds of animals, reptiles, and birds. A voice told him that 'What God has cleansed, you must not call common.' The next day he was visited by a group of men sent to find him by a Roman named Cornelius, who wanted to become a Christian. Peter realized that the vision meant that anyone who accepted Jesus as their savior was right in the eyes of God. There were some who believed that only Jews could become Christians, but Peter and later, Paul, knew that Jesus had come to save all humankind, not just Jews. There were debates within the Christian community about whether or not Gentiles (non-Jews) should be accepted as Christians, and Peter and Paul won the day. Christianity grew because it simply required that you believe in Jesus and trust in His salvation. After James took on the role of Bishop of Rome, Peter was able to spread the Good News beyond Israel. He founded the church in Antioch (in modern-day Turkey) in 37 A.D. and was the first Bishop of Antioch. Peter still remained interested in the church in Jerusalem, and returned often. After Rome burned, Nero needed someone to blame for the destruction, and chose the Christians as scapegoats. The persecution of the Christians brought Peter to Rome. He was arrested and crucified on October 13, 64 A.D. Because he did not feel he was worthy to be martyred in the same way Jesus had died, Peter asked to be crucified upside down. Peter's remains were eventually placed under St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican in Rome. As Jesus said, Peter was the rock on which the Christian church was built. He is considered to be the first Bishop of Rome. The Catholic church claims him as the first Pope of the church. Like Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, Peter also wrote a gospel. Peter was a leader among the disciples, and he became the most important leader of the early Church. It may seem strange that the Gospel of Peter was not chosen for the New Testament. Two of his letters (epistles) are included as First and Second Peter. The Gospel of Mark was written by one of Peter's students who worked with him for many years. Some believe that it is a clear reflection of Peter's faith and beliefs, and a few believe that Mark simply wrote down Peter's preaching. The Gospel of Peter was lost until the late 1800's when a copy was found buried with a monk in Egypt. Although some of it was still readable, large parts of it had disintegrated. There is no longer a complete copy of the Gospel Peter wrote. |
| May 2014 | ||||
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