Peter, St, originally Symeon or Simon bar Jona ('son of Jonah') 1st century AD
One of the 12 Apostles of Jesus Christ

He came from Bethsaida, but during the public ministry of Jesus Christ had his house at Capernaum. Originally a fisherman, and brother of Andrew, he soon became leader amongst the 12 Apostles, and was regarded by Jesus, who renamed him Cephas or Peter ('rock'), with particular favour and affection. Despite his frailty at the time of the Crucifixion, when he denied Jesus three times, he was entrusted with the 'keys of the Kingdom of Heaven'. He was the spokesman for the others on the day of Pentecost, he was the first to baptize a Gentile convert, and he took a prominent part in the council at Jerusalem. In Antioch he worked in harmony with Paul for a time, but the famous dispute (Galatians 2.11-21), with other causes, led to the termination of Paul's ministry in that city. Peter's missionary activity seems to have extended to Pontus, Cappadocia, Galatia, Asia and Bithynia. That he suffered martyrdom is clear from John 21.18, 19, and is confirmed by ecclesiastical tradition: Eusebius of Caesarea says he was impaled or crucified with his head downward. Tradition from the end of the 2nd century suggests he died in Rome and he is regarded by the Catholic Church as first Bishop of Rome. The first Epistle of Peter is usually accepted as genuine, but not the second. His feast day is 29 June. He was succeeded as Bishop by Linus (d.c.80AD), a son of Caractacus.

Bibliography: J Lowe, Saint Peter (1956)