Peter the Apostle

Drawing of Peter by Lorenzo Ferri Salton according to the indications of Maria Valtorta. Source: documentary collection of the Maria Valtorta Heritage Foundation.

He is a Galilean from Bethsaida. His name is Simon, but Jesus nicknames him "Peter" (Képhas in Aramaic). He is son of Jonas, who died at the time of Jesus' Public Life. His mother remains anonymous. Only one brother is known: Andrew the Apostle. They both own a house by the Sea of Galilee, neighboring each other. Peter is married to Porphirea and has no child.

Character and appearance

He is short and stocky, with a slightly hoarse voice. He appears to be about forty-five years old: his graying hair bristles more than it curls. His eyes are expressive, his hands, large and short, have prominent veins. He is "a big old baby" as affectionately said by Jesus.

Peter is talkative and quite easily impulsive: he controls himself only with great effort. This is particularly true towards Judas, who has a talent for irritating him.          

He is frank: "what I have on my Heart, I have on my lips" is one of his maxims. His quick wit sometimes borders on impertinence. He does not hide his mistakes:

"Ah! No! No secrets for the Master. I was wrong, I deserve the reproach immediately."        

He is curious and cunning: this sometimes amuses Jesus.
Peter is practical and shrewd, but he is also a man with a generous Heart.

He is authoritarian and sometimes domineering. His brother Andrew the Apostle has indeed taken the habit of yielding to him. Peter is easily intransigent.

The Virgin Mary, to whom Jesus asks for her impressions of the Apostles, defines him thus:

"Peter is also good. Harder because older, but frank and convinced."

The apostle

He is the fourth apostle called by Jesus.

Peter asserts himself from the beginning and often intervenes. He comments on events, takes initiatives, assigns roles. His straightforward and uncompromising character clashes with Judas’ interventions as well as those of the more or less hostile notable figures: many quarrels occur, but he progressively learns self-control under the recommendations of Jesus.    

Called to frequent travels, he moves from Bethsaida to Capernaum, city of birth of his wife Porphirea: this way she will be close to her Family. This move provides an opportunity for his mother-in-law to resume the litany of reproaches against her son-in-law, burdened with all the faults. The move to Capernaum also involves James and John, the sons of Zebedee, themselves Apostles. The move doesn't last: the cohabitation of son-in-law and mother-in-law is too difficult. The household returns to settle in Bethsaida.  

Peter’s paternal instinct suffers from having no child. He is therefore fulfilled when, thanks to the intercession of Mary, he becomes the adoptive father of Marjiam, the future Saint Martial, a young orphan and prodigious disciple.

After the selection of the twelve Apostles, Jesus gradually places Peter in the position of leader of the Apostles. This role is spontaneously accepted by all the Apostles except Judas. But Peter does not feel confident in this function, although he excels in it.      

Jesus highlights his qualities: his profession as a fisherman has given him qualities that Jesus will use to make him a "fisher of men": steadfastness, courage, vigilance, strength.

"And does that seem little to you, Simon Peter? He said to comfort him. You have everything you need to be my "rock". There is nothing to add, nothing to remove. You will be the eternal pilot, Simon."        

Jesus also acknowledges his sacrifices:        

"- How many sacrifices, isn't it so, Simon? Jesus said to him.      

"- Sacrifices? Which ones? Peter asked in surprise.    

"- Sacrifices of not questioning, not speaking, enduring Judas… being far from your lake… But God will give you a compensation for all," Jesus explains.

That does not prevent Peter from feeling unworthy when Jesus entrusts him with the leadership of the nascent Church after Him. He is frightened. This distinction is followed by a humiliation: trying to dissuade Jesus from going up to Jerusalem to live His Passion, he is publicly accused of having the thoughts of Satan.-

Peter witnesses most of the major events: The Transfiguration of the Lord, the Last Supper, the Resurrection, the Ascension, Pentecost, but not the Crucifixion where he fled.        

His triple denial during the Passion is a real trial for him: it confirms his unworthiness in his eyes. This memory tortures him. The Risen Jesus forgives him during His first appearance to the Apostles in the Upper Room, leading him to be humble and charitable towards the future weaknesses of his "brothers in Christ" and future converts.

The coming of the Holy Spirit, on the day of Pentecost, completely transforms this fishing patron, with rough language and manners, into a confident leader of the nascent Church:

"Peter is full of majesty when he speaks. He no longer has the rustic fisherman look he had just some time ago. He climbed on a stool to speak and be better seen and heard, because, given his small stature, if he had remained standing on the floor of the room, he would not have been seen by those furthest away and he, on the contrary, wants to dominate the crowd.
He speaks measuredly, with an appropriate voice, and the gestures of a true orator. His eyes, always expressive, are now more eloquent than ever. Love, faith, authority, contrition, everything shines through this look, announces and reinforces his words."

Indeed, from the first days after Pentecost, Peter establishes Worship every Sunday in the Upper Room, the first Church of the Christian era, consecrated by Jesus Himself at the Last Supper. :

"Now that he knows what use Lazarus has made of the house of the Upper Room, he has decided to begin regular Agape meals and to celebrate the regular mysteries the day after each Sabbath" reports John to the Virgin Mary.

His death

Despite the conditions of his death, as reported by Tradition (being crucified upside down), Peter benefits from a happy death, predicted several times by Jesus to Peter in the work of Maria Valtorta:

"At the hour of your dawn, you will see your Jesus smiling at you on the vault of the sky to say: 'I love you, come,' and your entry into the dawn will be gentler than the entry into the bridal chamber...".

"The hour will come when you will want to accomplish only the last sacrifice. And then you will have all the strength coming from Heaven and yourself. I will be there full of admiration watching you."  

Later, Jesus predicts to him:

"You will die saying my Name."

His name

Simon, like Simeon (Chimon - Shim'ôn), means "he who hears". Historical reference: the second son of Jacob who was held hostage by his brother Joseph, who became the Pharaoh's steward.  

Peter (Cephas in Aramaic) is the nickname given by Jesus: "You are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my Church".

Where is he mentioned in the work?

Calling of the first Apostles: GRM 48 GRM 49 GRM 50 GRM 51 GRM 53 GRM 54 GRM 55 GRM 56
Beginning of the apostleship in Galilee: GRM 57 GRM 58 GRM 59 GRM 60 GRM 61 GRM 62 GRM 64 GRM 65
Apostolic journey in Judea: GRM 70 GRM 71
Choosing the last Apostles: GRM 90 GRM 91 GRM 92 GRM 93 GRM 94 GRM 95 GRM 96 GRM 97
The last shepherds: GRM 98 GRM 99 GRM 100 GRM 101 GRM 102 GRM 103 GRM 104 GRM 105 GRM 108 GRM 109
In Judea before communal life: GRM 110 GRM 111 GRM 112 GRM 115 GRM 116 GRM 117 GRM 118
Teachings on the Ten Commandments: GRM 119 GRM 120 GRM 121 GRM 122 GRM 123 GRM 124 GRM 125 GRM 126 GRM 127 GRM 128 GRM 129 GRM 130 GRM 131 GRM 132
End-of-year celebrations: GRM 133 GRM 134 GRM 135 GRM 136 GRM 137 GRM 138 GRM 139 GRM 140 GRM 141 GRM 142
The Samaritan woman: GRM 143 GRM 144 GRM 145 GRM 147 GRM 149
Female apostleship: GRM 152 GRM 153 GRM 154 GRM 155 GRM 156 GRM 157 GRM 158
In Galilee, the choice of Apostles: GRM 160 GRM 161 GRM 162 GRM 164 GRM 165 GRM 166
Sermon on the Mount: GRM 169 GRM 170 GRM 171 GRM 172 GRM 173 GRM 174 GRM 176
Apostleship in Galilee: GRM 177 GRM 178 GRM 179 GRM 180 GRM 181 GRM 182 GRM 183 GRM 184 GRM 185 GRM 186
The second Easter journey: GRM 187 GRM 188 GRM 189 GRM 190 GRM 191 GRM 192 GRM 193 GRM 194 GRM 195 GRM 196 GRM 197 GRM 198 GRM 199 GRM 200 GRM 201 GRM 202 GRM 203
Apostleship in Judea: GRM 205 GRM 206 GRM 207 GRM 208 GRM 209 GRM 210 GRM 211 GRM 212 GRM 213 GRM 214 GRM 215
Apostleship in Philistia: GRM 216 GRM 217 GRM 218 GRM 219 GRM 220 GRM 221 GRM 222 GRM 223 GRM 224 GRM 225
The conversion of Mary Magdalene: GRM 228 GRM 230 GRM 231 GRM 232 GRM 233 GRM 235 GRM 237 GRM 238 GRM 239 GRM 240 GRM 241 GRM 242 GRM 243 GRM 244 GRM 247 GRM 248 GRM 249 GRM 250 GRM 251 GRM 252 GRM 253 GRM 254 GRM 255
Sending of Apostles and Disciples on Mission: GRM 256 GRM 257 GRM 258 GRM 260 GRM 261 GRM 262 GRM 263 GRM 265 GRM 268 GRM 269 GRM 271 GRM 272 GRM 273 GRM 274 GRM 275 GRM 276 GRM 277 GRM 278 GRM 279 GRM 280
Perea, Gilead and Trachonitis: GRM 281 GRM 282 GRM 283 GRM 284 GRM 285 GRM 286 GRM 287 GRM 288 GRM 289 GRM 290 GRM 291 GRM 292 GRM 293 GRM 294
End-of-year celebrations in Nazareth: GRM 306 GRM 310 GRM 311 GRM 312
Disciples’ journey to Antioch: GRM 313 GRM 314 GRM 315 GRM 316 GRM 318 GRM 319 GRM 320 GRM 321 GRM 323 GRM 324 GRM 325 GRM 326
Phoenicia and Upper Galilee: GRM 332 GRM 333 GRM 334 GRM 335 GRM 336 GRM 338 GRM 340 GRM 341 GRM 342 GRM 343 GRM 344 GRM 345 GRM 346 GRM 347
The Transfiguration and the Bread of Heaven: GRM 348 GRM 349 GRM 350 GRM 351 GRM 352 GRM 353 GRM 354 GRM 355 GRM 356 GRM 357 GRM 358 GRM 359 GRM 360 GRM 361 GRM 362 GRM 363
The penultimate Passover: GRM 364 GRM 365 GRM 366 GRM 367 GRM 368 GRM 369 GRM 370 GRM 371 GRM 372 GRM 374 GRM 375 GRM 376 GRM 377 GRM 378
In Judea: GRM 379 GRM 380 GRM 381 GRM 382 GRM 383 GRM 384 GRM 385
AGodx in Judea: GRM 386 GRM 387 GRM 388 GRM 389 GRM 390 GRM 391 GRM 392 GRM 393 GRM 394 GRM 386 GRM 387 GRM 388 GRM 389 GRM 390 GRM 391 GRM 392 GRM 393 GRM 394 GRM 395 GRM 396 GRM 397 GRM 398 GRM 399 GRM 400 GRM 401 GRM 402 GRM 403 GRM 398 GRM 399 GRM 400 GRM 401 GRM 402 GRM 403
Plain of Sharon: GRM 404 GRM 405 GRM 406 GRM 407 GRM 408 GRM 410 GRM 411 GRM 412
Pentecost, Decapolis and Esdraelon Plain: GRM 413 GRM 414 GRM 415 GRM 416 GRM 417 GRM 418 GRM 419 GRM 420 GRM 421 GRM 422 GRM 423 GRM 424 GRM 425 GRM 426 GRM 427 GRM 428 GRM 429 GRM 430 GRM 431 GRM 432
Summer in Nazareth: GRM 435 GRM 436 GRM 440 GRM 441 GRM 443 GRM 444 GRM 445 GRM 446 GRM 447 GRM 448 GRM 449 GRM 450 GRM 451 GRM 452 GRM 453 GRM 454 GRM 455 GRM 456 GRM 457 GRM 458 GRM 459 GRM 460 GRM 461 GRM 462 GRM 463 GRM 464 GRM 465
In Syro-Phoenicia: GRM 466 GRM 467 GRM 469 GRM 470 GRM 471 GRM 472 GRM 473 GRM 474 GRM 475 GRM 477 GRM 481 GRM 483
Feast of Tabernacles: GRM 488 GRM 489 GRM 493 GRM 494 GRM 495
In Moab and Judea: GRM 496 GRM 497 GRM 498 GRM 499 GRM 500 GRM 502 GRM 503 GRM 504 GRM 505 GRM 509 GRM 510 GRM 511 GRM 514 GRM 515 GRM 519 GRM 520 GRM 521 GRM 523 GRM 524 GRM 525
Feast of Dedication: GRM 527 GRM 528 GRM 529 GRM 531 GRM 532 GRM 533 GRM 534 GRM 536 GRM 537 GRM 538
The resurrection of Lazarus: GRM 545 GRM 547
The exile in Samaria: GRM 551 GRM 552 GRM 553 GRM 554 GRM 555 GRM 556 GRM 561 GRM 566 GRM 567 GRM 568 GRM 571 GRM 573 GRM 574
The return to Jerusalem: GRM 577 GRM 578 GRM 580 GRM 582 GRM 584 GRM 586 GRM 587
Holy Week: GRM 589 GRM 590 GRM 592 GRM 594 GRM 595 GRM 596 GRM 597 GRM 598
The Passion: GRM 600 GRM 601 GRM 612 GRM 614 GRM 615
Resurrection Sunday: GRM 616 GRM 619 GRM 623 GRM 626
From Resurrection to Ascension: GRM 627 GRM 628 GRM 629 GRM 630 GRM 631 GRM 633 GRM 634 GRM 635 GRM 636 GRM 637 GRM 638
Apostolic times: GRM 639 GRM 640 GRM 641 GRM 642 GRM 643 GRM 644 GRM 646 GRM 647 GRM 648

Learn more about this character

Excerpts from the Dictionary of Gospel Characters, According to Maria Valtorta (Msgr. René Laurentin, François-Michel Debroise, Jean-François Lavère, Salvator Editions, 2012):

Saint Peter is celebrated on June 29 together with Saint Paul. His name is mentioned 150 times in the writings of the New Testament.          

Two epistles from him are preserved. The 2nd is sometimes disputed. The Gospel of Mark, his disciple, reflects his teaching. Two 2nd-century apocrypha bear his name: the Gospel of Peter and the Acts of Peter.  

According to the Acts of the Apostles, Peter presides over the assembly that elects the apostle Matthias to replace Judas. The baptisms he performs on the centurion Cornelius and his family open the Church to the Gentiles.

Around 42, imprisoned by King Herod Agrippa, he is miraculously freed by an angel. Peter then continues his activity in Judea and Samaria, later in Antioch of Syria, the third largest city of the empire, where he has a debate with Paul.        

In 48/49, he presides with James the Lesser the first council of Jerusalem.  

It is then believed that he stays for seven years in Antioch of Syria, becoming its first bishop, before going to Rome. He finally comes to Rome twice.      

Around 65/67, under Emperor Nero, he is arrested. He is crucified in the emperor’s gardens on Vatican Hill. At his request, the execution takes place upside down.  

Emperor Constantine (4th century) had a Basilica built on Vatican Hill at the presumed site of his tomb. It became St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.        

In 1939, at the initiative of Pius XII, excavations were undertaken under the Basilica to locate Peter’s tomb. In 1948, following an audience with Pius XII, a priest from the Secretariat of State asked Maria Valtorta if she had had a revelation about Peter’s burial place. She answered affirmatively, but the levity with which the Servites of Mary treated the work at that time interrupted the revelation. From the fragments of texts mentioned in The Notebooks, it is deduced, without certainty, that his tomb is located in the Ostrianum catacombs on the Via Nomentana northeast of Rome, where he taught.      

However, all searches conducted by the Holy See culminated on June 26, 1968, in the official recognition by Paul VI of the remains found in the Basilica. The skeleton there is headless since the head had been venerated since the 9th century at St. John Lateran.

Notes and references

Note: Quotations from the work of Maria Valtorta on this page currently use machine-translated text and will gradually be replaced by the official English translation. Until then, the official translation may be consulted through the reference link provided with each quotation.

Second part of the Bible, from the coming of Jesus Christ until the Apocalypse.

Extraordinary assembly of representatives of the Catholic Church, convened to discuss and collectively decide on important issues.