PETER

tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah' (Mt 17' RV). It was a foolish and incon-siderate speech (Mk 9', Lk 9^), yet it breathed a spirit of tender affection. His idea was: ' Why return to the un-grateful multitude and the malignant rulers? Why go to Jerusalem and die? Stay here always in this holy fellowship.' (4) When Jesus washed the disciples' feet in the Upper Room, it was Peter who protested (Jn 13^-') . He could not bear that the blessed Lord should perform that menial office on him. (5) At the arrest in Geth-semane, it was Peter who, seeing Jesus in the grasp of the soldiers, drew his sword and cut oft the ear of Malchus (Jn 18i°- ").

The blot on Peter's life-story is his repeated denial of Jesus in the courtyard of the high priest's palace (Jn 18'2-"; ct. Mt 2669-'«=Mk 146«-«=Lk 225'-62). It was a terrible disloyalty, yet not without extenuations. (1) The situation was a trying one. It was dangerous just then to be associated with Jesus, and Peter's excitable and impetuous nature was prone to panic. (2) It was his devotion to Jesus that exposed him to the temptation. He and John were the only two who rallied from the panic in Gethsemane (Mt 26'">) and followed their captive Lord (Jn 18"; cf. Mt 26i'8=Mk 145* =Lk 22«). (3) If he sinned greatly, he sincerely repented (Mt 26" =Mk 14" =.Lk 2282). a look of that dear face sufficed to break his heart (Lk 22"). (4) He was completely forgiven. On the day of the Resurrection Jesus appeared to him (Lk 24»<, 1 Co 15'). What happened during this interview is unrecorded, doubtless because it was too sacred to be divulged; but it would certainly be a scene of confession and forgiveness. The Lord had all the while had His faithless disciple in His thoughts, knowing his distress of mind (cf. Mk 16'); and He had that solitary interview with him on purpose to reassure him.

At the subsequent appearance by the Lake of Galilee (Jn 21) Peter played a prominent part. On discovering that the stranger on the beach was Jesus, impatient to reach his Master, he sprang overboard and swam ashore (cf. his action in Mt 142*-'')- And presently Jesus charged him to make good his protestation of love by diligent care of the flock for which He, the Good Shepherd , had died. ' Be it the office of love to feed the Lord's flock, if it was an evidence of fear to deny the Shepherd ' (Augustine). Jesus was not upbraiding Peter. On the contrary, He was publishing to the company His forgive-ness of tlie erring Apostle and His confidence in him for the future.

Peter figures conspicuously in the history of the Apostolic Church. He was recognized as the leader. It was on his motion that a successor was appointed to Judas between the Ascension and Pentecost (Ac l"-2«), his impetuosity appearing in this precipitate action (see Matthias); and it was he who acted as spokesman on the day of Pentecost (2"«-)- He wrought miracles in the name of Jesus (3. 5" Qs^-"); he fearlessly confessed Jesus, setting the rulers at naught (4'-"); as head of the Church, he exposed and punished sin (5'-" 8U-Z4); tie suffered imprisonment and scourging (5"-" 12i-i»).

The persecution consequent on the martyrdom of Stephen, by scattering the believers, inaugurated a fresh development of Christianity, involving a bitter contro-versy. The refugees preached wherever they went, and thus arose the question, on what terms the Gentiles should be received into the Church. Must they become Jews and observe the rites of the Mosaic Law? In this controversy Peter acted wisely and generously. Being deputed with John to examine into it, he approved Philip's work among the hated Samaritans, and invoked the Holy Spirit upon his converts, and before returning to Jerusalem made a missionary tour among the villages of Samaria (Ac 8'-2'). His Jewish prejudice was thoroughly conquered by his vision at Joppa and the conversion of Cornelius and his company at Caesarea; and, when

PETER, FIRST EPISTLE OF

taken to task by the Judaistic party at Jerusalem for associating with uncircumcised Gentiles, he vindi-cated his action and gained the approval of the Church (10-11").

The controversy became acute when the Judaizers, taking alarm at the missionary activity of Paul and Barnabas, went to Antioch and insisted on the converts there being circumcised. The question was referred to a council of the Church at Jerusalem; and Peter spoke so well on behalf of Christian liberty that it was resolved, on the motion of James, the Lord's brother, that the work of Paul and Barnabas should be approved, and that nothing should be required of the Gentiles beyond abstinence from things sacrificed to idols, blood, things strangled, and fornication (Ac 15'-"; cf. Gal 2'-'"). By and by Peter visited Antioch, and, though adher-ing to the decision at the outset, he was presently intimidated by certain Judaizers, and, together with Barnabas, separated himself from the Gentiles as unclean, and would not eat with them, incurring an indignant and apparently effective rebuke from Paul (Gal 2"-2').

There are copious traditions about Peter. Suffice it to mention that he is said to have gone to Rome [which is quite possible] and laboured there for 25 years [utterly impossible], and to have been crucified (cf. Jn 21"- ") In the last year of Nero's reign (a.d. 68); being at his own request nailed to the cross head down-wards, since he deemed himself unworthy to be crucified in the same manner as his Lord. According to the ancient and credible testimony of Papias of Hierapolis, a hearer of St. John at Ephesus, our Second Gospel is based upon information derived from Peter. Mark had been Peter's companion, and heard his teaching and took notes of it. From these he composed his Gospel. He wrote it, Jerome says, at the request of the brethren at Rome when he was there with Peter; and on hearing it Peter approved it and authorized its use by the Church. ,David Smith.

PETER, FIRST EPISTLE OP.— No Epistle of the NT has caught more of the spirit of Jesus than 1 Peter. Imbued with a strong love for the risen Christ, and a profound conviction of the truth of the gospel as estab-lished in the world by the life, death, and resurrection of the Messiah, the author delineates a rich Christian life on the basis of these evangelical facts,

1. Contents. —

I. Thanksgiving and exhortation in view of the Christian salvation, 13-2'0. (i.) The glorious character of the Christian salvation,

13.12_

•(a) A sure inheritance, w.'"^. To God our Father •is ascribed all praise, because by raising Jesus ■Christ from the dead He has begotten us into a living hope certain to be soon realized.

(6) A present j^, notwithstanding manifold trials, w.8-3. Sufferings refine faith as fire does gold, and even now the unseen Christ is an object of unspeakable joy, and gives a foretaste of full salvation.

(c) The fulfilment of the promises made to the proph-ets, and a wonder even to angels, w.'"-'^. (ii.) Exhortation to realize this hope in a holy life as ■members of a Divine brotherhood, l'8-2"'.

(o) The holy and absolutely just Father requires filial obedience, "w '*-".

(6) To redeem us from sin the eternal and spotless Messiah was slain, and by His resurrection has awakened us to true f aitn in God. It is in the •Holy God thus revealed that all your faith and hope rest, ■w.'8-2i.

(c) The family of God, begotten of the imperishable seed of the gospel, must obey the truth. with sincere mutual love and grow into maturiiy . As livingstones built into the li'ving but once rejected Christ, they form a spiritual temple and also a holy priestnood to offer spiritual sacrifices to God. They have become the new Israel, the people of God, V^2".

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