The First Disciples

Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.

Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew; and James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John;

Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, the one who also betrayed Him.

Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is His mother not called Mary, and His brothers, James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas?

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

He *said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs or poll-tax, from their sons or from strangers?”

The Precious Ointment

Now when Jesus was in Bethany, at the home of Simon the Leper,

As they were coming out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon, whom they compelled to carry His cross.

As He was going along the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen.

Crowds Healed

And immediately after they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever; and they immediately *spoke to Jesus about her.

Simon and his companions eagerly searched for Him;

And He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom He gave the name Peter),

and Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot;

Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are His sisters not here with us?” And they took offense at Him.

While He was in Bethany at the home of Simon the Leper, He was reclining at the table, and a woman came with an alabaster vial of very expensive perfume of pure nard. She broke the vial and poured the perfume over His head.

And He *came and *found them sleeping, and *said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?

And they *compelled a passer-by coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), to carry His cross.

Many Are Healed

Then He got up and left the synagogue, and entered Simon’s home. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Him to help her.

And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little distance from the land. And He sat down and continued teaching the crowds from the boat.

Now when He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”

Simon responded and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.”

But when Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!”

and likewise also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear; from now on you will be catching people.”

Simon, whom He also named Peter, and his brother Andrew; and James and John; and Philip and Bartholomew;

and Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot;

Parable of Two Debtors

And Jesus responded and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he replied, “Say it, Teacher.”

Simon answered and said, “I assume the one for whom he canceled the greater debt.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.”

And turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded to sift you men like wheat;

Simon Carries the Cross

And when they led Him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, as he was coming in from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus.

saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon!”

One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.

He first *found his own brother Simon and *said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ).

He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).

One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, *said to Him,

Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.

Now He meant Judas the son of Simon Iscariot; for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray Him.

And during supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him,

So He *came to Simon Peter. He *said to Him, “Lord, You are washing my feet?”

Simon Peter *said to Him, “Lord, then wash not only my feet, but also my hands and my head!”

So Simon Peter *nodded to this disciple and *said to him, “Tell us who it is of whom He is speaking.”

Jesus then *answered, “That man is the one for whom I shall dip the piece of bread and give it to him.” So when He had dipped the piece of bread, He *took and *gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.

Simon Peter *said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later.”

Then Simon Peter, since he had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear; and the slave’s name was Malchus.

Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so was another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest,

Peter’s Denial of Jesus

Now Simon Peter was still standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You are not one of His disciples as well, are you?” He denied it, and said, “I am not.”

So she *ran and *came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and *said to them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we do not know where they have put Him.”

So Simon Peter also *came, following him, and he entered the tomb; and he *looked at the linen wrappings lying there,

Simon Peter, Thomas who was called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together.

Simon Peter *said to them, “I am going fishing.” They *said to him, “We are also coming with you.” They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing.

Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved *said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea.

So Simon Peter went up and hauled the net to land, full of large fish, 153; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.

The Love Question

Now when they had finished breakfast, Jesus *said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He *said to him, “Tend My lambs.”

He *said to him again, a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He *said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.”

He *said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was hurt 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.

When they had entered the city, they went up to the upstairs room where they were staying, that is, Peter, John, James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James.

Now a man named Simon had previously been practicing magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to be someone great;

Now even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was repeatedly amazed.

Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,

But Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”

And Peter stayed in Joppa many days with a tanner named Simon.

Now dispatch some men to Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter;

he is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the sea.”

Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in mind as to what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men who had been sent by Cornelius had asked directions to Simon’s house, and they appeared at the gate;

and calling out, they were asking whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was staying there.

Therefore send some men to Joppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you; he is staying at the house of Simon the tanner, by the sea.’

And he reported to us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying, ‘Send some men to Joppa and have Simon, who is also called Peter, brought here;

Growth in Christian Virtue

Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: