Skip to main content
SaintsPathway

Saint1st century · Feast June 29

St Peter the Apostle

Also known as Simon Peter, Simon, Cephas, Peter

Apostle
Prince of the Apostles
First Pope
Martyr

The fisherman called by Jesus to become a foundational apostle, whose failure, forgiveness and renewed leadership shaped the earliest Church.

A note on content. This profile is a prototype draft. Devotional traditions, historical facts and uncertain traditions will be clearly identified once entries are reviewed. We do not publish invented quotations.

The story of their life

Simon Peter left his nets to follow Jesus and became one of the Twelve. He confessed Jesus as the Messiah, often acted impulsively, denied him during the Passion and was restored by the risen Christ. Peter then emerged as a leading witness in the early Church and was martyred in Rome.

Historical context

Peter lived in first-century Galilee and Judea under Roman rule and helped lead the Church’s earliest mission.

Defining moments

  • Leaving his fishing nets to follow Jesus
  • Confessing Jesus as the Messiah
  • Denying Jesus during the Passion
  • Receiving forgiveness and a renewed pastoral mission
  • Preaching at Pentecost
  • Giving his life as a martyr in Rome

Faith and spirituality

Bold discipleship refined through failure, forgiveness, humility and pastoral responsibility.

Why this saint matters today

Peter is especially relatable to people who love deeply, fail publicly and need to begin again without abandoning responsibility.

Patronage and intercession

People turn to St Peter the Apostle in matters of:

Fishermen
Popes
The Church
People seeking forgiveness
Leaders

A prayer

Lord Jesus, through St Peter’s intercession give us courage to follow you, humility after failure and love strong enough to begin again. Amen.

Timeline

  1. c. 27–30

    Is called by Jesus from fishing to discipleship

  2. c. 30–33

    Denies Jesus and is later restored by the risen Christ

  3. c. 30–33

    Preaches at Pentecost and helps lead the early Church

  4. c. 64–67

    Is martyred in Rome

Sources and further reading

  • https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints/06/29.html
  • https://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Calendar/

Source-quality status: unverified prototype