Peter – La Vista Church of Christ

The Last Words of Peter, Eyewitness of Jesus

Jeffrey Hamilton — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 16:32:23 +0000

by Terry Wane Benton

Just before Peter died, he wrote his final letter (II Peter). He had been sharing “the knowledge of God” (II Peter 1:2). It was not a myth or a fairytale. He was privileged to share real “knowledge of God.” Others had shared mythology, but Peter knew he was sharing “truth” and “knowledge.” It was “knowledge of Jesus our Lord.”

Great things come to us through this knowledge. Grace and peace can be multiplied through this knowledge. We don’t have to wonder in doubt or fear of the unknown. There is available “knowledge of God”. Life and godliness and glory and virtue (II Peter 1:3) come to us through this wonderful “knowledge of God.” Some atheists pretend to know there is no God. Peter knew there was a God, and He knew there was “living hope” for what is beyond this world.

He knew “exceedingly great and precious promises” (II Peter 1:4) that exhilarated his heart. He knew something that would help people “escape the corruption that is in the world through lust.” What a wonderful thing he knew was true! “The knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (II Peter 1:8) would flourish into wonderful inner qualities. You could make your “calling and election sure” through this “knowledge” (II Peter 1:10-15).

He alludes to the fact that he would shortly “put off this tent” (II Peter 1:14), "just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me.” This is knowledge. This is not fiction! This is not a man deluded by mythology and imagination. This is a witness who has “knowledge” and is sharing real knowledge just before he is executed. Traditional accounts say he requested to be crucified upside down because he did not feel worthy to hang upon a cross in the same position as His Lord. A man writing his final words but vehemently denying that his testimony was just “cunningly devised fables” (II Peter 1:16). I cannot believe this man was tricked by others, nor tricked by his own mind playing games. “We (all the apostles) did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

After 30 years, it was still fresh and powerful, and there was no fear of death in this man. “We were eyewitnesses of His majesty.” “We heard this voice” (the voice of God speaking on that mount of transfiguration). Peter is speaking about his “knowledge of God.” "We were with Him” on the Holy mountain.

It is amazing that Peter then returns to the living prophecies of the Old Testament and says, “We have the prophetic word made more sure” (II Peter 1:19). The Tanakh in the hands of those who have lost faith in the Messiah that was supposed to have come renders liberal “scholars” hopeless while reading those scriptures with blinders on. The Messiah they had hoped for never came, and they set aside the “stone rejected by you builders” (Jesus, the real Messiah). The Old Testament in their hands has been reduced to mythology, but in the hands of witnesses like Peter, men with real “knowledge of God and of Jesus,” those prophecies are alive and “more sure” than ever before.

Peter is on the right side of history. He knows that the prophetic word is living and dependable. He knows it is true. He knows the critics have all been wrong. “The Morning Star” has arisen in His heart. He knows that any man would do well to listen to the prophecies as independent lights guiding people out of the darkness of ignorance. Listen carefully to the prophets until the Morning Star rises in your heart. In this dark world of ignorance and despair, we would all do well to “heed” the prophetic word. We can “know”! “Knowing” this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation or origin. Holy men of God spoke as the Holy Spirit guided them.

The same man who denies following “cunningly devised fables” will also deny being a “false prophet” (II Peter 2:1f) or a “false teacher,” or someone who brings in “destructive heresies.” But he will not allow himself to “deny the Lord who bought them.” There is the “way of truth” (II Peter 2:2) that the false teacher will blaspheme, but Peter calls himself a witness with the knowledge of God and truth. Peter talks about others who, for financial gain, “will exploit you with deceptive words” (II Peter 2:3), but he absolutely knows that he is not deceiving people for financial gain. This man had been with Jesus, and no amount of opposition and persecution could change what this man knows as fact. The prophetic word made more sure, along with Peter and the others being with the miracle worker for three years, seeing Him crucified and then raised from the dead, made this man an eyewitness with knowledge, not myth or fable. We are privileged to hold that great testimony of divine demonstration in our hands to give us “joy inexpressible and full of glory” (II Peter 1:6-8).

Peter’s Conviction

Jeffrey Hamilton — Tue, 04 Nov 2025 17:31:57 +0000

by Terry Wane Benton

Peter, another eyewitness and apostle of Jesus, was recorded by Luke regarding several of his testimonial accounts. See Luke’s impressive documentation of Peter’s presentation of the evidence of Jesus, as Luke recorded them in summary in Acts 2, 3, and 10. Luke recorded these speeches to show future generations the kind of things Jesus did to be thought of as God’s divine demonstration for all time to come. Luke shows the consistency of Peter’s message even in the hostile place of Jesus’ crucifixion, right in Jerusalem on the first Pentecost after Jesus’ Passover timed death by crucifixion. Peter also offers his own written testimony in two books, collected into the New Testament and known as First and Second Peter.

Peter’s two books were written before his death, which occurred around AD 67. In his first book, he talks about his “living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (I Peter 1:3). This means that the hope he had for the last 30 years was still very much “alive” in him, and His testimony had kept him going strong in his conviction for that long. He had not weakened in his conviction that Jesus was real, and that “the blood of Jesus Christ” (I Peter 1:2) was still setting people apart to God and covering the sins of all who want reconciliation with God. Peter believed there was an absolute truth that was still “purifying souls” (I Peter 1:22).

After about 30 years of preaching the truth of Jesus, his testimony continued to be the same as Luke had reported him preaching on that first Pentecost of Acts 2 and to the Gentiles in Acts 10. The same basic facts had not changed in 30 years of preaching the message of Jesus Christ. In Peter’s first letter, he does as he did on Pentecost, he reminds people that the prophets (I Peter 1:10f) had been writing beforehand about this Christ and His sufferings and the glories that would follow. He spoke of what God had revealed by the Holy Spirit (I Peter 1:12). He said that Jesus was coming to be revealed again in the future (I Peter 1:7,13). It is impressive to see how Peter had lost no confidence at all in the “incorruptible seed,” the word of God, and he appeals to Isaiah 40 to remind his readers that “the word of the Lord endures forever” (I Peter 1:24-25), no matter how the glory of man changes and fades. It was to Peter that the conviction came, “Glory and dominion belong to Jesus forever and ever” (I Peter 4:11). Peter was just as alive with his conviction as he had been 30 years earlier, when he stated the truth on that first Pentecost in Jerusalem. Glory and dominion still and always belong to Jesus.

These are not the words of someone who knew they made up a story, lying to the world about a dead man, but the words of someone still fully convinced that Jesus is “both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36), the One who proved His Godhood and power over death itself. He believed that the full glory of Christ was still ahead and would finally be revealed (I Peter 4:13) and that “exceeding joy” was coming.

Suffering as a Christian was just a high honor to Peter (I Peter 4:16). After 30 years of suffering for Jesus, Peter was still alive with such confident expectation. If Peter knew he and the other guys had hidden the dead body of Jesus and that he was part of a deception, he could not stomach 30 years of lies for hopelessness and more unnecessary suffering of persecution. But these are the words of a man fully convinced he had spent 3 years witnessing God come in the flesh and seeing Him alive from the dead. This man was still alive with confident expectation. He knew God as “a faithful Creator” (I Peter 4:19). Everything from Genesis to this moment was a result of God's reality and His faithful work in bringing about a rock-solid foundation for faith. Peter said he was “a witness of the sufferings of Christ” (I Peter 5:1). He had not forgotten it and would never forget it. He was still reeling with confidence that he was “also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed” (I Peter 5:1). He believed there is to be the coming reception of “the crown of glory that does not fade away” (I Peter 5:4). These are not the words of someone who was part of conspiracy, a deception, but the words of a witness to the greatest event of human history, when God came and revealed Himself in the flesh and demonstrated the greatest love man has ever seen, and regenerated the hearts of men toward a very “living hope.”

An Introduction to the Book of Acts

Jeffrey Hamilton — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 21:55:25 +0000

by Jeff Arnette

The book of Acts is a favorite of many in the church. It is perhaps the most widely taught and read book in the churches of Christ. Much of our doctrine and practice stems directly from this 28-chapter narrative history. The truth is that Acts is a remarkable story of promises and fulfillment.

This wonderful narrative was written by Luke, a physician, and addressed to Theophilus, the most excellent. Most scholars will agree that Acts is a continuation of the Gospel according to Luke, a part two, if you will. It begins where Luke’s gospel ends, with the ascension of Jesus Christ. Most people are unaware that Acts is one of the longest books in the New Testament. With 1003 verses, only Luke and Matthew’s gospels are longer.

The name of the book is somewhat of a misnomer, as the majority of the Apostles are not even mentioned. In reality, Acts is the account of Peter (chapters 1-8) and Paul (chapters 9-28) that traces the spread of the Lord’s church from Jerusalem to Judea, to Samaria, and the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).

It is a wonderful account of the church that Jesus promised (Matthew 16:18). In dramatic fashion, we follow the disciples, guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit, as they take the gospel to the ends of the earth. We get to experience their struggles with the Jews, their failures, and their victories. We get to walk along with them as Peter takes the gospel to the Gentiles and Paul takes it all the way to Rome, standing up to political and religious powers who wanted nothing more than to stop them. Yet, God was with the church, and they continued to move forward by His power.

Darrell Bock, a New Testament scholar at Dallas Theological Seminary, makes this observation. He says the key character in Acts is God: His activity and His plan. The apostles are not the important characters of Acts. Rather, God’s activity stands at the center of the account. Acts narrate God’s work in establishing the church through Jesus' activities. It tells us how the Holy Spirit worked through the disciples to create a new community for the people of God. Both Jews and Gentiles make up this new community. So, Acts is a sociological, historical, and theological work explaining the roots of this new community of Jesus followers.

An interesting aspect of Acts is that one-third, if not half, of the book consists of sermons and speeches. This includes eight addresses by Peter and by Stephen (Acts 7). There are sermons and speeches by individuals such as James, Paul, and the Jerusalem elders (Acts 15). It also includes addresses by notable figures such as Gamaliel, the Pharisees, Demetrius the silversmith, Festus, Tertullus, and Felix.

Let me encourage you to re-read Acts. Read like you would read any story. Observe the structure, the movement of the story, and the larger-than-life characters that it describes. I am sure you will see the hand of God as he moves them along, sometimes even against their will. Read it as a divinely inspired treatise on our origins and the struggles faced by these great men and women, bringing you pure New Testament Christianity.

Why Was Peter Afraid?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 23:45:37 +0000

by Clay Gentry

In Galatians 2:11-14, the Apostle Paul recounts a surprising incident that occurred in the church in Antioch. Peter, who had been freely sharing meals and fellowship with Gentile believers, abruptly “separated himself, fearing the circumcision party” after “certain men arrived from James” (that is, Jewish-Christians from Jerusalem).

For us today, it can be challenging to grasp the profound significance of table fellowship in the early church. In our modern context, we rarely pause to consider the ethnic or religious backgrounds of our tablemates when sharing a meal. Yet, for Jews and Gentiles to eat together was a truly paradigm-shifting aspect of the gospel. More than just a social gathering, sharing food, especially the Lord’s Supper, was a powerful testament to the socially transformative power of the gospel and a profound symbol of acceptance and unity in Christ.

But Peter was no stranger to challenging Jewish customs regarding Gentiles. After his divinely orchestrated encounter with the Gentile Cornelius, Peter preached to and baptized him and his household (Acts 10). When members of the “circumcision party” later criticized Peter, saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them” (Acts 11:2-3), Peter did not retreat in fear. Instead, he boldly recounted the course of events that led him to understand God’s will, declaring, “God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean” (Act 10:28). This statement encapsulates the revolutionary truth that God had broken down barriers between Jew and Gentile, declaring all who believe in Christ to be one in His sight (cf. Ephesians 2:14-16).

So, considering his prior conviction and courageous stance, why would Peter give in to fear when these men arrived in Antioch, leading him to withdraw from fellowship with his Gentile brethren? Several motivations may have played a role:

Anxiety about his mission to the Jews: Peter was appointed to “the circumcised” (Galatians 2:8) - also known as Jews. He might have been anxious about how his open association with Gentiles could be perceived by those in his primary mission field, potentially hindering his evangelistic efforts among them.
Fear of suffering further persecution: Peter had already experienced persecution from Jewish authorities for preaching Christ (Acts 4:1-3ff; 5:17-18ff). He may have feared further violent opposition from believing and unbelieving Jews (cf. Galatians 6:12) who vehemently opposed any blurring of the lines between Jews and Gentiles. Perhaps, in his mind, dining with Gentiles wasn’t worth the pain.
Concern for his reputation among Jewish Christians in Jerusalem: The church in Jerusalem, particularly some who were “zealous for the Law” (Acts 21:20), held significant influence. Peter might have been concerned about how his actions would be perceived by these influential Jewish believers and their traditional avoidance of Gentiles, potentially leading to a loss of respect or even alienation.

What Paul termed “fear,” Peter might have rationalized as expedient or advantageous to avoid conflict. However, from Paul’s perspective, such human reasoning, driven by fear, represented a dangerous compromise of the gospel’s core truth. Paul recognized that Peter’s actions, despite any good intentions or perceived practical benefits, contradicted the very unity and equality found in Christ (cf. Ephesians 2:14-16). It was a retreat from the “truth of the gospel” (Galatians 2:14) that Peter himself had embraced and courageously proclaimed.

Paul’s public confrontation of Peter serves as a powerful reminder: Fear leads to hypocrisy, and hypocrisy leads to a denial of the clear message of the gospel. Like Peter, we too face pressures – whether from internal anxieties, social expectations – to prioritize comfort, reputation, or social acceptance over divine truth. Let us steadfastly guard against such fear, ensuring our lives always reflect, rather than compromise, the unchanging truth of the gospel.

How could Peter be in Rome?

Jeffrey Hamilton — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 22:23:05 +0000

Question:

I read from many early Church fathers that Peter was in Rome and preached in Rome. Still, in Galatians 2:7-9 at the Jerusalem Council, the agreement is made that Peter would only go to the Jews, not the Gentiles, so Peter would be breaking that agreement if he went to Rome and preached there. But all those early church fathers couldn't have been wrong about Peter being in Rome.

Answer:

"But from those who were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)-well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me. But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised (for He who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles), and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. They only asked us to remember the poor--the very thing I also was eager to do" (Galatians 2::6-10).

There was no contract or terms of agreement regarding who Peter and Paul would talk to. There was an acknowledgment that the Lord sent Paul to the Gentiles and Peter to the Jews.

Paul was appointed a preacher, apostle, and teacher of the Gentiles (I Timothy 2:7). His purpose was to bring obedience of faith to all Gentiles (Romans 1:5). However, this does not mean that Paul worked exclusively with the Gentiles. When he entered a new city, he generally first approached the Jews (Acts 17:1-4). While Paul focused mostly on the Gentiles, it was his hope that the Gentiles' acceptance of the gospel would spur the Jews to convert as well (Romans 11:13-14). We see that Paul did teach and convert Jews. Paul mentioned personally baptizing Crispus in Corinth (I Corinthians 1:14). Crispus was the synagogue leader in Corinth (Acts 18:8). Sosthenes took Crispus' place (Acts 18:17), and in I Corinthians 1:1 we find that Sosthenes was working with Paul. Paul was a preacher to the Gentiles, but nowhere does the Bible indicate that he worked exclusively with the Gentiles.

In the same way, Peter focused on the Jews, but this does not mean Peter worked exclusively with them. After all, it was Peter who converted the first Gentiles (Acts 10). The letter of I Peter indicates that Peter also worked in the region we now call northern Turkey (I Peter 1:1), where there was a heavy Jewish population. He also worked in Babylon, where we know there was a significant Jewish settlement (I Peter 5:13). Rome also had a large Jewish population, so it would not be surprising to learn that Peter visited this group at some point. Historical evidence indicates that Peter died in Rome.

However, there is no evidence that Peter started the church in Rome. In fact, Paul hints that the spiritual gifts were lacking in the church at Rome, which was one of the reasons he wanted to visit that city (Romans 1:11). The spiritual gifts were only distributed by the apostles (Acts 8:18), which would indicate that no apostle had visited the church in Rome up to that point in time.

Peter’s “Nevers”

Jeffrey Hamilton — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 16:06:21 +0000

by David Gibson

I believe it was in his film series “Making Things Right When Things Go Wrong,” or perhaps in the Brecheen-Faulkner Marriage Enrichment series, Paul Faulkner observed that “Peter was given to ‘never’ statements.”

Four examples

When Jesus first predicted his death at the hands of the Jewish leaders, “Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, ‘Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you’” (Matthew 16:22).
When Jesus came to Peter to wash his feet, Peter objected, “You shall never wash my feet” (John 13:8).
When Jesus predicted that Peter would deny Him, Peter responded, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” (Matthew 26:35).
When Peter saw the vision of unclean animals, and God told him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat,” he protested, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean” (Acts 10:13-14).

Here is an oxymoron. As another preacher said, we cannot call Jesus “Lord” while refusing to submit to His Lordship (Luke 6:46).

Lessons for us

Peter’s “nevers” were spoken from ignorance. Though he frequently blundered in word and deed, to his credit, when he learned better, he submitted humbly. In other words, he grew in his understanding, and he grew in humility.

And fallible creatures that we too are, there is hope for us yet!

James, Peter, and I

Jeffrey Hamilton — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 17:59:26 +0000

by Matthew W. Bassford

Acts 12 offers one of the great conundrums of the New Testament. In the first few verses of the chapter, the wicked king Herod Agrippa arrests and executes the apostle James, the brother of John. Shortly thereafter, he arrests Peter with the same intention. However, God sends his angel to rescue Peter from prison, and soon after that, Herod becomes worm food.

To most Bible students, this apparently preferential treatment is perplexing. Admittedly, Peter was important to the early church, but so was James. Along with Peter and John, he was one of the three inner-circle apostles during the ministry of Jesus. He was one of only three witnesses to the Transfiguration, and after his death, God was down to two!

Why, then, did God save Peter but allow James to be beheaded? Wasn't James worth an angel too?

At this point, Bible classes usually turn to discussions of the inscrutable will of God. We don't understand why He permits one of His faithful servants to perish while sparing another, but we trust His wisdom, judgment, love, etc.

I too have shared in these discussions, but in the midst of Bible class last night, another thought struck me. The issue here may not be our inability to understand the will of God. It may be our failure to share His priorities.

To us, the death of James may seem senseless and tragic, but it is far from the worst thing to happen to an apostle in the book of Acts. That dubious distinction belongs to Judas, who meets a gory fate in the opening chapter and is erased from the roll of the apostles because of his treachery. He is replaced by Matthias after Peter cites a curse from Psalm 109 as authority for so doing.

The true tragedy here is the story of Judas, not the story of James. It still would have been a true tragedy even if the former had outlived the latter. James fulfilled God's purpose for his life and entered into his reward. Judas betrayed his Lord and entered into a fate so awful that Jesus said it would have been better for him if he had not been born.

We can see all sorts of ways in which James would have been useful in the further spread of the gospel, but self-evidently, he was not necessary. Even Peter, rescued in Acts 12 but martyred on a later occasion, proved not to be necessary. He finished his work, part of which continues with us to this day, and the kingdom went on without him. Both men, I believe, were satisfied to have it so.

I think the same is true of me. Many people have told me how sad it is that my productive life in God's service is going to be cut short. Certainly, it is not the fate that I would have chosen for myself, but it is far from the worst thing that could have happened to me.

I can think of several worse fates off the top of my head. I could have betrayed my marriage vows and been unfaithful to my wife. I could have allowed a porn habit to take over my life and consume me. Intellectual pride could have led me to pervert the gospel I proclaimed. I could have crushed my children and driven them away from God through self-righteous harshness. I could have become a bitter, contemptuous social-media warrior, doing the devil’s work in the name of God.

I would choose death over any of these things, but they are not mere far-fetched hypotheticals. I know my own frame and my own weaknesses. Without the help of God, I would have fallen prey to any or all of them. In some cases, this still may happen. God isn't finished with me quite yet, but Satan isn't finished with me either.

When a servant of God finishes his race, those remaining may mourn his loss, but it is a triumph rather than a tragedy. All of us may serve Him for a time, but His work is greater than any of us, and His purpose will be accomplished with or without us.

We are not necessary to His service. Rather, His service is necessary to us. It outweighs all the concerns of this life. 2000 years from now, will any of us care that we died at 45 rather than 85? Do James and Peter care about the extent of their time on earth right now?

The only thing that will matter to us is that we were faithful, whether for many decades or few. Either one leads to an eternity of glory. Disaster only lies in a failure to honor God, for if we do fail, we will have the same eternity to lament it.

Sister Peter

Jeffrey Hamilton — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 19:56:10 +0000

by Sewell Hall
From the Roswell Family Report, March 18, 2012

Fifty years ago, it was easier to remember the names of Christians than it is now. Every man’s first name was “Brother” and every woman’s name was “Sister.” Now, most people are known by their given names almost exclusively. We must return, however, to the old custom in designating the wife of Peter because we have no clue as to her personal name.

Peter’s wife is only mentioned in connection with her mother being healed by Jesus (Matthew 8:14-15), and in Paul’s defense of his own right to be married. Paul says, “Do we have no right to take long a believing wife, as so also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?” (I Corinthians 9:5). The only other possible reference to her is Peter’s statement in closing his first epistle: “She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you” (I Peter 5:13), but the identity of that woman is uncertain.

Do you suppose Peter’s wife resented the fact that she is only mentioned in connection with her mother and her husband? Somehow we doubt it. In fact, it may be that Peter thought of his wife as he wrote, “Do not let your adornment be merely outward — arranging the hair, wearing golf, or putting on fine apparel — rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quite spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God” (I Peter 3:3-4) A “gentle and quiet spirit” does not resent being identified primarily as the daughter of a serving mother or the wife of a godly husband.

Qualities Implied

First, according to Paul, she was a believer or, as the King James Version puts it, “a sister.” That is significant. Had she been otherwise it would surely have limited Peter’s usefulness.

She must have remained at home while Peter followed Jesus around the country. Peter said to Jesus, “See, we have left all and follower You” (Mark 10:28). This surely does not mean that Peter totally abandoned her, contrary to the teaching of I Corinthians 7:2-5.

She and Peter lived in Capernaum, the very town where Jesus lived (Matthew 4:13). This would mean that, even while accompanying Jesus, Peter would have been often in Capernaum with his wife, perhaps having Jesus as their guest. It does mean, however, that there were times when she had to remain at home without him, perhaps caring for her mother or for her children, in doing this she was serving Jesus as surely as those women who traveled with Him and “provided for him from their substance” (Luke 8:2-3).

After the church began, Peter was an elder (I Peter 5:1). Few people outside an elder’s family realize the strain this places on his wife. Once again, she most certainly did not have her husband to help her as often as many other women had their husbands. And it is too much to suppose that when Paul remained with Peter for fifteen days (Galatians 1:18), she helped provide the hospitality expected of every Christian (I Peter 4:9) and especially of elders (I Timothy 3:2)? Think of the pain she must have suffered when Herod had Peter arrested intending to put him to death as he has James (Acts 1:1-4).

The pain would not have come from outsiders only. She must have heard the “complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution” (Acts 6:1), and her husband was one of the men being criticized. We might wonder, too, if she was present with Peter when Paul “withstood him to his face” (Galatians 2:11) and rebuked him “before then all” (Galatians 2:14). Such complaints against a husband are often more difficult for the wife than for him, and if she is not possessed of a “gentle and quiet spirit” she can be disruptive to the peace of a congregation and an embarrassment to her good husband. But there is no hint of such misconduct from sister Peter.

Paul’s rebuke of Peter took place in Antioch, but as noted above (I Corinthians 9:5), Peter’s wife accompanied him on his travels in later years. We rather like the King James translation that says that Peter led her about. That well describes what preachers often do, and Peter was no exception. The wife of a preacher, who is eager to serve where she is most needed, may well be led about into some pretty strange and unpleasant places. Some preachers are prevented from going there they feel they should go because of a wife who is unwilling to be led about where she does not wish to go. Apparently such a wife did not hinder Peter.

Final Thought

In listing important women in God’s service, we may well forget the “gentle and quiet” woman who lovingly supports her husband in the work that she does. Sister, we may not know your name; by many you may only be known as “the preacher’s wife.” “But God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them” (Hebrews 6:10).

Learning from Overlooked Details

Jeffrey Hamilton — Fri, 17 Sep 2021 14:47:40 +0000

by Steve Wolfgang

As part of my morning devotional, a recent reading was "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia" (I Peter 1:1 ESV).

I am fascinated by the geography of the opening verse. It prevents me from blitzing through in order to get to “more important” things.

Find a map. Nearly every print Bible has them, and with good reason. Digital versions offer even greater possibilities.

Have you ever wondered why the Spirit would forbid Paul to preach the word in these regions, as we saw in Acts 16:6-10? Why send him on to Europe when souls much closer needed saving in Asia Minor?

Paying attention to often-overlooked details, we can also recall from reading through Romans (Romans 15:18-21 in particular) that Paul’s defense of his role as an “apostle to Gentiles” was that he was called to preach where Christ had not been named, “lest I should build on another’s foundation.” Here’s our clue: Since Peter evidently already had a relationship with those in Bithynia and neighboring provinces, Paul was instructed to seek opportunities elsewhere.

Peter attends to those in these regions, reminding them, and us today, to “set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’” (I Peter 1:13-16).

What opportunities will God provide for me, and you, to speak a good word for the Lord today? Tomorrow? Are we prepared to share the hope and grace given us by revelation which dispels our former ignorance? And is our conduct holy, reflecting the One who called us?

“This word is the good news that was preached to you” (I Peter 1:25).

I’m All Petered Out

Jeffrey Hamilton — Wed, 09 Dec 2020 19:28:00 +0000

by Jefferson David Tant

The sun was sinking, and the day’s work was done. The farmer shut off his tractor, walked to the house, and into the kitchen where his wife had his coffee waiting for him. As he sat, he wiped the sweat off his brow and said, “I’m all petered out.”

Niels Frederik Schiottz-Jensen
The tired farmer, 1882

That’s an old expression not used much these days, but it was common in former days. I probably said it as a teen working on Uncle Clide Keeney’s ranch out in Eldorado, Texas. Running the combine harvesting grain was exhausting.

Perhaps you have said it. Do you wonder about its origin? It is an odd saying, but there is a probable explanation. My father, Yater Tant, had a suggestion that made good sense. Can you think of a Bible character that often made a bold beginning, but then faded out? Oh yes, Peter! How often Peter made a strong start, but then faded away.

Once the disciples were in a storm and saw Jesus walking on the water. They were scared out of their wits, thinking it was a ghost. But Jesus spoke and calmed their fears. “Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.’ And He said, ‘Come!’ And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’" (Matthew 14:28-30). How exciting to walk on water! But then Peter took his eyes off Jesus and saw the storm around them, and his boldness left him.

Consider Christ’s conversation with the disciples before his arrest. "You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, 'I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' "But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee." But Peter said to Him, "Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away." Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You" (Matthew 26:31-35). We know what happened after Jesus was arrested and put on trial. Peter failed.

Remember when the soldiers came to arrest Jesus? Who jumped into the fray? Peter, of course. “Simon Peter then, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's slave, and cut off his right ear …” (John 18:10). And it was shortly after that Peter “petered out,” as he cursed and swore that he did not even know Jesus.

So, what’s the point? No matter how weak or fallible we may be, the Lord can still use us for great things. Peter could have given up after yet another failure. In fact, he was overcome with remorse when he realized what he had done. “Then he began to curse and swear, ‘I do not know the man!’ And immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, ‘Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.’ And he went out and wept bitterly” (Matthew 26:74-75).

But the Lord was not through with Peter. He had important things for Peter to accomplish. John records Christ’s conversation with Peter before he ascended when he asked Peter three times if he loved him. “He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me?’ Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’ And he said to Him, ‘Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Tend My sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.’ Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, ‘Follow Me!’” (John 21:17-19).

Who was the lead speaker on Pentecost? The very same Peter. Oh, he was still fallible, as later Paul had to rebuke him when he refused to eat with the Gentiles (Galatians 2:11-14). But Peter never gave up! He never quit! He kept coming back! Judas gave up, but Peter didn’t.

In reading the pages of history, we see so many who stumbled. Abraham, Jacob, David, Solomon, Miriam. But they didn’t throw up their hands in despair and quit. They repented, accepted God’s forgiveness, and continued to serve him.

And so it should be with us. We stumble and sin, but we can take courage from Peter’s example, as he refused to give up, and, as Paul expressed it, “I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).