Peter and Paul: A Devotional Study of the Lives of Peter and Paul

By Martin Angelo Recio

The spiritual development of Simon Peter was slow and gradual. He loved the kingdom of our Lord, but always spoke before he thought. He abounded in energy, though at times it was misdirected. As he stood by the side of the Master, his spiritual perception grew. Slowly and surely Simon Peter grew into a man of the Kingdom. And at Pentecost, there was no voice proclaiming the coming of the Holy Spirit louder than that of Simon Peter. He became a rock of the Kingdom. From common clay, he became a living stone, an builder-up of the Kingdom of heaven. So it may be for all who turn to the Lord Jesus.

The conversion of Saul of Tarsus, otherwise called Paul, was sudden and dramatic. In one encounter with the risen and glorified Christ, Paul was turned to the Lord Jesus. The acceptance and peace with God, which he had sought for so many years, was his at last. And he found it through simple faith in Christ Jesus. The love and grace of Christ overflowed for him; and he was elevated to an apostle for Jesus Christ.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Oct 27, 2011
• ISBN: 9781449727758

Martin Angelo Recio

Rev. Martin A. Recio served thirty years in the pastoral office. His degrees include an AB in history from Northwestern College; a BD from San Francisco Theological Seminary; and a JD from Lincoln Law School, Sacramento California. He and his wife, Lorene, have one daughter, two sons, and seven grandchildren. He and his wife live in Ashland, Oregon.

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Chapter I

LOVEABLE SIMON PETER

There were men who at one time or another played a significant role in the outreach and building of the Kingdom of Heaven. Not many were physically powerful or unduly gifted with heavenly visions. More often than not, they appeared physically weak, and a few rude of speech. Still, they were men full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; and of whom it could be said that they came into the world for such a time as this. None of these men achieved their eminence, or even their recognition, over night. Rather, their prominence came through a difficult and life-long struggle over obstacles and personal hardships. They also overcame the opposition of jealous and offended forces of entrenched power.

Within their lives, and round about them, one felt the unseen power of the Spirit. Surely, the Spirit of the Most High God led them, held them up, and carried them through the narrow waters. And all the while, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, like a low burning wick kindled a flame of constraining love in their hearts. These men of the Kingdom were characterized by compassion for the lost among mankind, and by a love for all the saints in Jesus Christ. But in the beginning, they were just ordinary men like you and like I.

These men, Christ influenced by touching their souls with his grace. By his death on the Cross, the Savior had won the love of their hearts. The love of Christ overwhelmed them, took possession of them, and raised them up to men of the Kingdom. Such a man was Simon, also called Peter. He is introduced in the Gospel of St. John.

The next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; And looking as Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold, the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus… One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first findeth his own brother, Simon…And he brought him to Jesus. (John 1:35-42)

1. Loveable Simon Peter.

Loveable Simon Peter, so thoroughly human, had the qualities that awaken a deep affection in the friends of Christ. One can become strongly attached to Peter. As we study him and his labor in the cause of Christ, we find him emerging as an engaging and winsome personality. We love him most, I imagine, because he had the characteristics, the human sympathies and passions, and even the prejudices and failings common to us all. He also retained, for a time, the pride and prejudice of a people steeped in the ancient religion, a law etched in tablets of stone. Nonetheless, he was not a complex or disturbed personality. And his straightforward approach appealed to most people.

In the beginning, Peter appeared to have promised more than he was able to produce. He was subject to incidents of vacillation and periods of uncertainty. Strong at times, weak at times, he boasted loudly, giving the impression he would stand like a great rock. But he proved fragile, sifted like wheat, and easily broken. While pleading eternal loyalty, he followed Christ from a great distance on the night of the Master’s betrayal. Then he drew near, into the court yard of the high priest, endeavoring to exhibit a semblance of courage. But when questioned by a little maid, he uttered a cursing denial of his Lord. When Jesus looked at him, Peter retreated in shame and humiliation into the dark night, and wept bitterly. Peter’s heart was large, and we love him for that. But in the beginning, the weakness of his human nature, not yet fully fashioned by the Master’s hand, revealed itself fully.

Peter has nowhere to hide, and the Gospel narratives bring all to the light of day, his humiliation as well as his love for Christ. And which one of us has never had his moments of personal failure? As the Savior rescued and reclaimed Simon Peter, he can do as much for us when the need arises. Christ, who can be moved by our weakness, can do it well. With his grace and Spirit, he can restore us to himself and to the joy of his salvation. The fruit of Peter’s restoration came forth at Pentecost; for on that glorious occasion there was no prophetic voice like that of Simon Peter’s. He spoke with the eloquence and conviction of the Spirit, and his voice was like the wind that breaks the rocks in pieces. If you study him closely, you will love Simon Peter.

2. He was Ordinary and Outspoken.

Simon Peter was one of the common people, an ordinary fisherman who worked the Sea of Galilee for his livelihood. He was not a man of mystery. He lacked the refinement of culture and higher education, for when Peter came to Christ he was not known as a man of letters. Every one of us can understand and sympathize with Peter. Unlike John, the beloved, he made no mystical flights in his speech or writings. Still, under the influence of Jesus of Nazareth, his preaching came with power and in the demonstration of the Spirit. There were moments when Peter, endowed with grace, moved the multitudes. The common people sensed his spiritual quality, and, on occasion, were content to walk in his shadow. His literary work gives no evidence that he was a profound theologian, though he proclaimed the elementary doctrines of Christ clearly and without compromise. There were also moments, when under the influence of the prophetic spirit, Peter ascended the heights—as when he described the Spirit of Christ in holy men of old, the morning star in your heart, and when he wrote about being with Christ on the holy mount during our Lord’s transfiguration.

Peter was pure flesh and blood, and this may have been why, at times, he was outspoken. He spoke boldly and freely, and his overt frankness made people listen. His sermons have more content than form, and he made an immediate impact. The Apostolic Message delivered through Simon Peter, struck at the heart and turned men and women to the Lord Jesus. Though mistaken on occasion, Peter was sincere. He never implied a double meaning to his words. Seldom would anyone have a doubt what was on Peter’s mind, for sooner than later, in simple words he would make it known. Truly human, we love him most of all because Peter loved the Kingdom of God. It drew Jesus to him, and the Master loved Peter for that.

Ordinary and outspoken, surely Peter was. Herein lays the hope of humanity, hope for you and me. The Spirit of grace, which the Father sends in the Savior’s name, can take an ordinary vessel of common clay and make it an effective instrument for the work of the Kingdom.

3. Was Simon Peter a Leader?

Was Simon Peter a leader? As a leader of other individuals, perhaps he was not. We know that immediately following Pentecost, Peter was the first spokesman for the followers of Christ. With boldness, he gave a rational, prophetical explanation of the events leading to the outpouring of the Spirit. And he applied the incident to the spiritual needs of his audience. Simon, along with John, took first place among the disciples of our Lord in the early stages of the Church. From the beginning, he became a member of the Inner Circle, the close personal friends of Jesus. Peter had initiated the healing of the lame man at the temple gate called Beautiful. And in response to the people’s great wonder, he delivered a strong, courageous sermon at the temple porch called Solomon. Through his preaching that day, five thousand turned to the Lord Jesus. And Peter was among the first to become a prisoner for Jesus Christ and to suffer for the Name.

When Peter and John were brought before the Sanhedrin the following day to answer by what name or power they had achieved the healing of the lame man, Pete spoke for them and their movement. The grace of the Holy Spirit came upon Peter, lending eloquence and spiritual directness to his words. And the members of the Sanhedrin could only marvel and take note that Peter and John had been with Jesus of Nazareth. Of the New Testament literature, both John and Paul wrote far more than he. In evangelizing the ancient Roman civilization and building up the Church, not Peter, but Paul labored more effective than they all.

But this does not mean that Peter was not in the forefront of the movement. He most surely was. Peter labored well in all phases of the Kingdom, and it was he who first opened the door of the Kingdom of Heaven to the Gentiles. And we love Peter, also for that. True, opening the door to the Gentiles necessitated the intervention of the Holy Spirit, but what good work for the Kingdom does not? Loveable Simon Peter, he loved the Kingdom of our Lord.

4. Peter, Dynamic and Energetic.

Peter, the big fisherman, displayed a dynamic and energetic personality, and our Lord loved these qualities in him. He moved energetically, particularly after the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. He had an inner source of readily available energy, and at times his very presence gave the impression of strength. He wanted to get things done at once. He did not like needless delays, and he had difficulty in dealing with frustration. Simon Peter was Simon Peter, running forward and rushing into things, and preaching the word. Speaking out, he expressed his mind forcefully—though at times, he knew not what he said. Here was work for the Potter’s hand, for the Master Workman of the human race, for Peter had those qualities and sincerity of heart needed for one who was to labor in the Lord’s vineyard.

Peter’s energy, which overflowed in unguarded moments, would have to be tempered and disciplined, and properly directed for a more effective work in the Kingdom. After weeping bitterly on that dark night of denial and deep humiliation, Peter struggled with himself. He struggled to clarify his desires, ambition, and love for Christ. He still suffered from inner turmoil, when the women came from the empty tomb with the good news. He questioned their story. But when the storm passed over, Simon Peter survived; and his love for Christ and the Kingdom emerged victorious. Thereafter Peter dedicated himself completely to the cause of Christ.

He found his faith and love for Christ to be more precious than gold that perisheth. His energy, in body, mind, and soul, he submitted to the leading of the Spirit. Engaging the remainder of his life in the work, he took the Gospel to the far reaches of the empire. While Peter may have been impetuous, and at times a little rash, we thank God he was never apathetic. The spiritual force of the Gospel stimulated him. When he walked with his Lord, he always responded to the Lord in critical situations. Although on at least two occasions, it may not have been the reaction Jesus would like to have seen in him. But the Savior had prayed for Peter, that your faith not fail, and therein lay Peter’s salvation—and also ours. The Master has prayed for all who are his.

Peter did some work in the Roman provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Asia, and Bithynia. In his mission with the exiles of the Dispersion, he labored long, intensely, and effectively. In the development of the early Church narrated in the Book of Acts, like an old soldier of Jesus Christ, Simon Peter appears to have faded into the background. But in the beginning Peter walked in the limelight with John—but Peter was the prominent one as the chief spokesman for the new faith. Then, when the Holy Spirit called Paul for the work appointed unto him, and Paul became active in the evangelization of the Roman world, Simon Peter disappeared from the limelight.

All occurred in the mysterious working of God’s providence, who works out his curious design according to the pleasure of his own good will. Paul, the new champion of the faith, must now increase; and the old champion, Peter, must decrease. In this mystery of grace, Peter followed in the steps of his first mentor, John the Baptist, who gave way to the prominence of Christ. Where did Peter go? He got lost in the work of the Church. And which one of us does not love a man like this, one who works hard and energetically, and gets things done for the cause of the Kingdom? And our Lord loved Peter for that also. He loves us too, when we do the work of the Kingdom, whatever that work might be.

5. Peter, a Man of the Spirit.

Is it not true, that we love Simon Peter because he was a man of the Spirit? Moved in his heart by the grace and love of Christ, Peter sensed the spiritual essence of things, things not revealed to flesh and blood. Our Savior acknowledged that this was so. Deep in his inner man, Peter was like one on whom the tongue of fire abideth as on the day of Pentecost. Even during our Savior’s earthly mission, Peter had spiritual discernment. And when the Holy Spirit came in power on Pentecost, his spiritual sensitivity became a permanent part of his character. The fire of the Spirit burning in his soul, made him animated, zealous for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He believed in being sanctified by the Spirit unto the obedience of Jesus Christ.

Since the day had dawned for him, and the morning star had risen in his heart, Peter remained attentive to the things of the Spirit. On important occasions that marked the forward movement of the Church, God gave Peter revelations of heavenly things and directed his work by the leading of the Holy Spirit. There were those moments of high spiritual grace, when the people were content to be in the path of his shadow, when Peter walked by. For Simon Peter did signs and wonders. In the power of the Spirit of Holiness, Simon Peter healed the sick—and the penumbra of the Holy Spirit overshadowed him during those august moments. No one can deny that the grace of God was with him, or that with eloquence and force Peter gave testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Simon Peter, a man of the spirit, is loved wherever the name of Christ is preached.

6. Common Clay.

When first called to discipleship, Peter came as a simple earthen vessel, not yet fully molded by the Potter’s hand. He was subject, as we all are, to human frailty. He did not lack physical strength, but on occasion he was easily impressed, easily influenced, and also easily broken. Have we forgotten that he was sifted like wheat?

In the Apostolic Church, among the disciples and immediate followers of Christ, none were perfect. All went through a difficult path to growth in grace and in the spiritual life. And Simon Peter grew in Christ as most individuals grow. While his spiritual heart inclined to follow Christ closely, his natural disposition was less desirous. His incidents of wavering, displaying a weak faith, and his fearing to be identified with Christ, are too poignant and clear to be denied. How true this turns out to be in life: when we think we can stand firmly, we may be in danger of falling. We forget too often that it is Jesus Christ who strengthens us.

We can understand and appreciate Simon Peter’s apparent contradictions: his earthly spiritual weakness, his wavering, and most of all, his tears and sincerity. We too are affected by the weakness of our natural tendencies. Because he feared being associated with the Lord Jesus, in the weakness of his flesh, Peter publicly denied his Lord. His denial led to shame and humiliation. And the simple enormity of his falling caused him to weep bitterly. And although Simon Peter knew how to weep, he also knew how to repent, and how to seek forgiveness for his sins and failures. And the Lord Jesus loved Simon Peter for that also.

Do we have the courage to ask, How is it with us? Are there moments, when we like Simon Peter on the night of betrayal, are hesitant or even fearful of being identified with Jesus of Nazareth? We know our common frailty. But is there any reason to fear being identified with the good, the noble and higher aspects of human life? In this spiritually deficient generation, do we fear someone might accuse us of being a follower of Christ? And then point to our sins and failures. We may not be so far removed from these incidents in Peter’s life as we would like to believe. Instinctively, we know if a fall occurred in the life of Simon Peter, a close personal friend of the Lord Jesus, it can also occur with us. Nevertheless, though we are all earthen vessels, subject to the imperfections of our humanity, there is still faith, hope, and love for us all—in Christ Jesus our Lord. And Christ is still able to restore our souls, and to restore us to the joy of his salvation.

7. Was He Able?

Are you able, said the Master, to drink of my cup, and to be baptized with my baptism? To be able means to be capable of doing a certain thing. In this instance, it meant having the desire, courage, and fortitude to follow the Lord Jesus closely and do his work, though it entailed suffering. For the mission Simon Peter would assume, it also implied the determination and motivation to carry through. Naturally, Peter thought himself able to drink of the Master’s cup and to be baptized with his baptism. He believed he would always remain strong, steadfast, and true. No, it was more than that. He believed himself stronger than they all, stronger than all the other disciples. All might fail; all might fall, but not him. Peter had deceived himself because of his size and physical strength.

At what cost must we learn this vital lesson, that when we believe ourselves strong, our seeming strength turns out to be nothing but weakness? Conversely, when we are cognizant of our faults and true weakness, we realize that it is only Jesus Christ who strengthens us. When he made his boast, Peter felt himself absolutely able. He felt strong and enduring in himself. When the crisis came, Simon Peter revealed to the world his utter weakness. He fell, drastically. A Rock? No, more like soft bottom clay. Poor, loveable Simon Peter.

But Christ had called him to the work, and had named him Peter, the Rock. Within the working of God’s providence, the mold would be formed, and the clay beaten into the mold. Jesus chose him among the first to be called to the work, knowing what was in Peter. But the Savior also knew—that with the gift of his grace and the power of the Holy Spirit, Peter would be formed into a man of the Kingdom. He would become a prime up-builder of the Church, and a man of the bright and morning star. And in time, Peter became more like the Master whom he loved and served.

Like the Lord Jesus, Peter learned obedience to the Spirit through the things he suffered. Like Paul, Peter would share in the sufferings of Christ. For Christ had baptized him with the Holy Spirit, with fire, and with the flame of eternal love. And in his strong desire to know the power of our Lord’s resurrection, Peter became like his Master in his death. In the end, Simon Peter was found able to drink the Savior’s cup. He was found worthy, like the Lamb, to open up the seals of the Kingdom and to declare unto men the counsels of God. Peter had become an early Rock upon which Christ built his Church.

8. From Simon Peter to You and Me.

From Simon Peter to you and me, the message is this: What we love, we will grow to resemble, (Bernard of Clairvoux). And Peter loved the Lord Jesus, and he loved the Lord’s Kingdom. How true this is, if we love the Savior, we will seek after him. We seek to follow Christ and learn to cherish his grace and spirit. Even with our loved ones, we are influenced by their wishes, desires, and ideas. To all who have turned