Peter

1. Loaded with charisma and attracted others to him. He was a leader among leaders as a disciple and then later as an apostle.

2. Believed Jesus, even to the point of walking on water. No other disciple did this.

3. While with Jesus, he was brash, impetuous, and emotional. More than once he stuck his foot in his mouth. He was prone to talk too much and act too hastily.

4. His personality appears to be sanguine/choleric. Usually he was the first to speak. He was a natural leader.

5. Of Peter, Jesus said "thou are Simon the son of Jona, thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation a stone."

6. He embraced his mission as quickly as any of the twelve disciples. He was the first to act.

7. He had a fire inside. He wanted to please God and make a difference.

8. He was one of Jesus' most beloved and privileged leaders.

9. He was one of Jesus' inner circle disciples, along with John and James.

10. He was younger brother to another disciple, Andrew. Andrew led Peter to Jesus.

11. He was married as he asked Jesus to heal his mother-in-law. There is no record as to if he had children.

12. He was fisherman (with a fleet of boats) before meeting Jesus; he was considered a laborer (not educated) by some, but due to his natural leadership ability likely was successful as a fisherman.

13. He was probably the greatest turn-around leader in the New Testament.

14. According to tradition he was crucified upside down by the Romans, as he felt unworthy to die as Jesus did.

15. Peter, the original uneducated fisherman, became one who's message "turned the world upside down" and he became the most influential New Testament leader aside from Paul. His maturity shows in the two New Testament letters that he authored: 1 Peter and 2 Peter.

Prepared by Bob Jordan for The Victor, 2004.