Simon Peter

*"Everything changes now."*
―Simon to Jesse.[src]

Simon Peter

**Simon Peter**, alternatively known as **Simon** or **Peter**, was a former fisherman in Capernaum and became one of the twelve disciples of Jesus.

## History

### Early Life

Simon, the older son of a fisherman named Jonah, was born in Bethsaida, where he grew up with his younger brother, Andrew, with whom he's very close. The family eventually moved to Capernaum, and when the boys became teenagers and finished Hebrew School, their father taught them how to fish by having them sit down and watch.

Eventually their father would trust them to go fishing on their own, and on the point where they made their own mistakes. They became known among the other fishermen in Capernaum including one of the lead merchants in the city, Zebedee.

Simon met Eden, the sister of fellow fishermen Jehoshaphat and Abrahim, and soon took her hand in marriage.

### Fisherman

#### A Dishonest Honest Trade

Owning a house and a boat, the brothers turned to gambling to make extra money and paying tax as well. After years of gambling, Andrew began to follow a rogue preacher called John the Baptizer and started leaning on God. However, Simon continued to only gamble and work night and day, sometimes even mocking his brother's rabbi, whom he calls "Creepy John". At one point, he ran the wagering table at the Roman foot races.

#### Desperate Position

The brothers hit a bad season where they catch significantly less fish than usual, and as a result fall behind with their tax debts. Eventually, when the situation worsens, Simon decides to work on Shabbat, but while on the shore, he's approached by Quintus, the Praetor of Capernaum who seeks to catch the fishermen who fish on Shabbat (which is forbidden by Roman law and the Torah both).

Simon offers to turn over the merchants who fish on Shabbat, yet neither Andrew Nor Eden are supportive of his actions. The next Shabbat, Simon's conscience gets the better of him and he backs out of his agreement with Rome, getting the top half of his left ear cut off and threats of harm coming to Eden. That night, Simon, together with Andrew, meet their fellow fishermen, Zebedee and his sons, James and John. Simon asks Zebedee to give him the merchants' catch so he can tell the Romans that the problem has been solved, but Zebedee denies his request.

#### "Where is your faith?"

After confessing to his wife of what happened and learning that his sick mother-in-law, Dasha, is staying with them, Simon is told by Andrew that he met the Messiah while with John the Baptizer but Simon waves him off. He then runs into Matthew their tax collector, who then warns him that Quintus plans to arrest him the next morning if he doesn't settle his debt. Hearing this, a desperate Simon goes out to fish for one last attempt to pay off his taxes. Andrew brings Zebedee, James, and John for help, but they didn't catch a single fish. As the day breaks, the fishermen notice a crowd at the shore and assume them to be Romans.

### Fisher-of-Men

#### The Miraculous Catch of the Fish

When the fishermen land their boats on shore, the crowd proves to be Jews listening to a Preacher, Who Andrew recognizes as the Messiah. The Teacher asks to stand on their boat so His voice can be heard better. When the sermon ends, the Teacher tells Simon and Andrew to cast their nets one more time. Obeying him, many fish appear out of nowhere and with the help of Zebedee and his sons, Simon is able to fill both boats and pay off his tax debts to Rome. Immediately, Simon falls on his knees and confesses his sins to the Teacher, acknowledging Him as the Messiah. The Teacher calls him, Andrew, James, and John to follow Him, inviting them to become fishers of men. The Teacher is known as Jesus of Nazareth.

#### Water to Wine

The next day, Simon, Andrew, James (nicknamed now as Big James), and John follow Jesus to Cana for a wedding, along with Jesus' other students Thaddeus, Little James, and Mary Magdalene. At the wedding, they also meet Jesus's mother. That night the servants, as well as caterers Thomas and Ramah, run out of wine and panic over the public shame it will bring them and the groom's family. At His mother's urging, Jesus asks the servants to fill purification jars with water and turns it all into gallons of delicious wine. An amazed Simon declares he will follow Jesus to the ends of the earth.

After the wedding, the group travels back to Capernaum. Matthew, having witnessed the miracle of fish and growing desperate for answers, appears at Simon's house and begs him and Andrew to tell him if it was a trick. Furious at the tax collector for apparently spying on Jesus for the Praetor, Simon is barely prevented from hitting Matthew. The two brothers tell him to leave them alone, declaring he won't trust them if he doesn't trust his own eyes.

Jesus begins to preach at the home of Zebedee. Simon feels a need to protect Jesus during the sermon, and watches from the other side of the street as Jesus heals a paralyzed man lowered through the roof by his friends. Afterwards, Shmuel a Pharisee, calls for Jesus' arrest but Simon and his fellow students help Jesus to slip away.

#### A Pharisee and a Tax Collector

The day after the healing of the paralytic, Jesus meets with a prominent Pharisee, Nicodemus, despite Simon's misgivings. The next day, Jesus calls Matthew to follow Him, to everyone's shock. Simon declares that calling a tax collector is different from calling a fisherman, to which Jesus replies, "Get used to different." While unhappy with the situation, Simon still acts defensive when Yussif and another Pharisee criticize the group for dining at Matthew's house with other tax collectors and undesirables.

#### Healing Simon's Mother-In-Law

Before leaving Capernaum, Jesus heads to Simon's house to heal Dasha, knowing Simon would be burdened with worry on the upcoming journey. Eden thanks Simon for following Jesus and he bids the two women a fond farewell as the group leaves.

#### In Sychar

The group travels to a village in Samaria called Sychar. While the disciples head to town for food, Jesus tells a Samaritan Woman named Photina that He is the Christ. Simon is excited as Jesus finally begins to launch His ministry. Big James and John start acting out of turn, assuming that their Rabbi is showing them favor, causing great annoyance for Simon and the others. At one point while Jesus is preaching in the town square, he remarks to Andrew that one couldn't tell Samaritan from Jew in the crowd.

#### In Bashan and Syria

Heading to Syria through Bashan, the disciples meet a disciple of John the Baptizer named Philip. Simon becomes irritated of Philip as he begins to mentor Matthew. The tensions erupt when Simon catches Matthew writing down what is happening. Simon disapproves of writing what Jesus says and does, stating that their enemies might try to twist his words. Later on, Jesus tells Simon that he needs to listen to other's ideas, hinting to Simon that one day He will not be with them. When Philip is introducing Jesus to his friend Nathanael, Simon and Andrew show up to announce that word about His healings and preaching is attracting much positive attention.

When they arrive in Syria, people began lining up to be healed by Jesus. The disciples take turns helping keep order and watching Jesus. The group discusses how different He is from what they'd been taught to expect, as well as following Torah and their identity as Jews. Simon's resentment towards Matthew for betraying their people for wealth finally reaches a boiling point, where he declares Matthew has dishonored their heritage and that he will never forgive it. This nearly causes a fight between him, Andrew, and the Sons of Thunder as the latter two remind him of his own deal with Quintus. They are silenced and shamed when an exhausted Jesus stumbles into camp, having healed several hundred people and turning none of them away.

#### The Feast of Tabernacles

The group travels to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. Thomas and Nathanael tell Simon and John that Shmuel was preaching against Jesus in Jerusalem. Simon, John, and Matthew accompany Jesus to the Pool of Bethesda and they watch Him heal Jesse, a paralytic who had been there the longest.

#### "Creepy John" and "Crazy Simon"

A few days later, in the outskirts of Jericho, Simon, Andrew, and Philip accompany Jesus to meet with John the Baptizer. When they return to camp, they find a demoniac terrorizing some of the others and a Zealot fighting the demoniac off. Jesus heals the man and calls the Zealot, Simon nicknamed Zee, to follow Him. While Simon introduces Simon Z. to the others, he notices Mary is missing and quickly alerts Jesus.

#### Searching for Mary

Jesus sends Simon and Matthew to search for her, and the former manages to put aside his hostility towards the latter for the time-being, feeling responsible for his safety and refusing to split up despite Matthew's insistence it will cover more ground. It soon becomes clear that Matthew has developed a crush on Mary, to Simon's amusement. When they finally locate her, both men work together to convince her into returning despite feeling ashamed of her actions, and Simon starts to gain respect for Matthew after seeing his more human, vulnerable side.

#### Shabbat Controversy

When the three return from Jericho, Simon learns from Big James and John that John the Baptizer has been arrested and sentenced for life imprisonment by King Herod, and immediately goes to comfort a distraught Andrew. On Shabbat, Jesus takes the group to a synagogue in Wadi Kelt, where Jesus heals Elam, a man with a withered hand. Leaving the synagogue, Simon picks grains to eat but suddenly remembers harvesting food is forbidden on Shabbat. Jesus permits him and the others to pick grains, upsetting the Pharisees. Then Jesus claims to be the Son of Man and the Lord of the Sabbath.

#### "Teach Us to Pray"

Jesus tells the disciples of a Sermon He is planning that will define His ministry. While fishing for more food, Simon and Andrew watch in horror from their boat as a group of Roman soldiers detain their Rabbi. This compounded with the stress of the Baptizer's imprisonment makes Andrew lose his temper at the group, particularly Mary for running off. In a role reversal, Simon is the more level-headed one, coming to her defense along with Ramah and Matthew. They wait a full day for Jesus to return, and Simon asks Him to teach them how to pray like Him. After another week of preparing, they distribute the notices throughout Galilee, inviting people to Jesus' Sermon.

#### Sermon on the Mount

The group goes to a mountain, overlooking the Sea of Galilee, and Simon helps organize the crowd of nearly four thousand people. Before the Sermon starts, Eden shows up (having come along with several other friends and family of the disciples) and calms his nerves. Afterwards, Nathanael introduces Simon the one who helped them get the land, Judas.

### Leader of the Twelve

#### Home Again

After the sermon, Andrew tells Simon that he’s visiting John the Baptizer in the Machaerus prison, thanking Simon for taking care of everyone while his brother tells him to thank John for leading them both to Jesus. His plans of enjoying time alone with Eden are frustrated when she graciously allows Nathanael and Simon Z. to stay at their house, being strangers to Capernaum. During one of their rare moments of privacy, he suggest they start trying to grow their family, to which she readily agrees.

#### Two by Two

Days later, Jesus assigns the Apostles (now twelve in number), to go out and minister in six teams of two, temporarily granting them power and authority to heal and cast out demons. He pairs Simon with Judas and sends them to Caesarea Philippi, and also teams Matthew with Simon Z. Like everyone else, the other Simon questions the wisdom of trusting the safety of a former tax collector with someone who once trained to kill them. Noticing that Eden is stricken at being separated again, Simon offers to ask Jesus for a shorter assignment, but she shoots down his suggestion.

That evening, the Twelve meet together in front of Matthew’s old house (returned to him by his parents and now used by the ministry). Simon makes sure he can trust Simon Z. not to hurt Matthew, then leads them all in a recitation of Psalm 3, having used it earlier to comfort Eden while she fears for his safety.

#### From Victory to Failure

Simon and Judas spend the next several weeks preaching, healing, and casting out demons. Their efforts seem mostly successful, with Simon encouraging his less-experienced partner. When he returns home (roughly 2-3 months later), Simon happily greets Eden and immediately makes plans to have the men over for dinner the following day, not realizing that she clearly wants to discuss something and not asking how she fared in his long absence nor taking her feelings into consideration.

It becomes more apparent that something is troubling Eden, with tension growing between husband and wife as she seems to be hiding something. When Simon finally asks her if he’s done anything wrong, she curtly replies it was something he *hasn’t* done, and he should figure it out if he truly understands her. Their disagreement is interrupted when Jesus and some of the other disciples drop by to escape a mob of pilgrims following them. Frustrated with his wife’s secrecy and the sudden lack of privacy, Simon storms out of the house and makes his way to the Synagogue where he runs into Gaius.

#### Unexpected Ally

The two commiserate over frustration towards their masters, as Capernaum’s water supply is tainted by sewage due to the broken cistern, but Quintus isn’t doing much to help the situation. Gaius suggests he and Simon both fix the cistern themselves, as it affects both their communities and Simon is looking for a way to keep busy. He also tells Simon the best way to keep peace with Eden is getting used to saying five words: “You were right, I’m sorry.”

The next morning, Simon tries it before heading to work on the cistern, apologizing for “Whatever it is,” but this fails to impress Eden. He complains about it to Gaius, and the two men talk about their respective families and cultures as they work. He learns Gaius and his wife are raising the son of a deceased servant girl alongside their own child, but the subject seems like a touchy one.

#### Two Miracles

Big James and John run by saying Jesus is about to perform another healing. The three disciples manage to join the others in the crowd of pilgrims hindering their progress to Jairus’s house. Amidst the confusion Veronica, a woman who’s been bleeding for 12 years, manages to get close enough to grab a tzitzit hanging from the hem of Jesus’s tunic, causing some power to go out of Him and heal her.

Jesus immediately halts and asks who touched Him, to which Simon incredulously points out that several people have been pressing around Him. Veronica confesses and apologizes for not asking first, but tearfully confirms she is healed. Jesus praises her faith and offers her comfort, telling the rest of the crowds that He will help them later, and asking Simon and the Sons of Thunder to accompany Him the rest of the way to Jairus’s house.

They arrive to learn that the girl has died and the funeral arrangements are beginning. Despite the protests of the professional mourners and another rabbi, Jesus commands everyone but the family and His three disciples to clear out of the house. They all watch in amazement as He restores her to health, then bids them all to keep the full details secret for the time-being in order to protect the family from controversy. To quiet the other rabbi, Jesus and the Twelve go to immerse themselves in the Sea of Galilee, ostensibly to purify after either making contact with Veronica or with Jesus after He touched her, but in reality to see how she is doing.

#### Tensions Mounting

Though happy for Veronica, some of the Apostles are rattled that she was able to get so close to Jesus and draw power from Him without His consent, making them concerned for their Rabbi’s safety. Over the next few weeks they start to arm themselves, though debate on whether such actions are necessary. John criticizes Simon for working with Gaius, but Matthew comes to his defense by saying Gaius is not cruel like many other Romans. In return Simon calls Matthew’s quick mind the best weapon of all, and shows him how to use his pen as a makeshift dirk in self-defense.

He recognizes a kitchen knife Philip is handling as one of Eden’s, and is unsettled when the other man says it was long overdue for sharpening, helping Simon realize he has been neglecting his home and wife, who remains uncharacteristically distant and withdrawn. At dinner that evening, he shows great appreciation for Eden’s cooking and tries to cheer her up, an effort that seems partly successful, and she prepares to tell him something before they are interrupted by the Sons of Thunder.

They tell him that two men arrived claiming to be friends of Andrew’s and fellow disciples of the Baptizer with a message for Jesus, and that Philip and Andrew have gone off to the Decapolis. For once, Simon decides to finish dinner with Eden first, despite his friends’ insistence on interviewing the strangers that very minute, but is confused to realize she has fled the room.

#### Questions and Signs

On meeting the strangers with John and James the next day, Simon tests them with trick questions about Andrew that they answer correctly. He then warns them that there is no telling where or when Jesus will show up next, and the five men wait for some hours before a crowd of pilgrims gather in the streets, signaling that Jesus is healing.

After witnessing his Rabbi heal a blind boy, an infected leg, and a mute, Simon brings John’s followers to Him, guessing correctly that Jesus will have no qualms about addressing such a delicate questions in the presence of several people: Whether or not He is truly the Messiah. Jesus tells them to report all they have seen to John, and then tells the crowds that, though there is none greater of faith than the Baptizer, even he has doubts, and even the least in the Kingdom of Heaven shall be greater than he.

As Jesus and the three apostles head off, they are met by Barnaby, bringing Shula and humbly asking Jesus to heal her blindness, but insists he doesn’t need his bad leg healed. Jesus heals the both of them anyway, and the four men watch the two friends run off in joy and gratitude, prompting Simon to joke it was fun to watch even without angry Pharisees.

#### From Joy to Sorrow

When Simon comes home that evening, Eden finally confesses that she had a miscarriage while he was gone on the two-by-two mission, but kept it secret knowing it would devastate him, assuming the grief would fade in time and finally realizing she can’t handle it alone.

He is hurt and furious at her for hiding the existence and death of their child then acting like he had done something wrong, to which she points out his emotional distance and inconsideration for her feelings when he returned. Though she then tries to comfort him, he feels that Jesus has betrayed their trust, knowing He could've prevented it if He chose.

While the rest of Capernaum celebrates Purim, Simon is wandering all over town, struggling to understand the tragedy that's befallen him and Eden. He ends up in the Roman quarter and is nearly arrested for trespassing before Gaius steps in and takes him to his house to grab a cloak and slip away. There Simon briefly meets Gaius's wife and son, and learns that the servant boy is terribly ill.

Before bidding each other farewell, Gaius confesses that he is the servant boy's father, and that listening to the Sermon on the Mount has made him start to regret his actions, particularly because of how it's hurt his wife, though they leave the issue unspoken. Simon advises him that unspoken matters between husband and wife are harmful, speaking from recent experience.

#### Distracted and Distraught

Simon finds his way to Matthew's old house, where Mary Magdalene, Tamar, and Zebedee inform him that Jesus and the rest of the Twelve have gone on a mission to the Decapolis regarding unrest Andrew and Philip caused indirectly by their preaching. They're surprised that he knows nothing about the current agenda, and Simon snaps at Zebedee for commenting on his obvious distraction.

There he is found by a frustrated John, who was assigned by Jesus to bring Simon to the meeting place, despite wanting to be on the front lines with his Rabbi. He's further angered by Simon's sudden and obvious apathy towards the ministry, prompting an argument between the men on the way over.

Simon finally breaks down and tells him about the miscarriage, and that Eden may not be able to have children because of complications. He also admits to being furious at Jesus for allowing it. A now-sympathetic John tries to remind him that Jesus never promised they wouldn't suffer hardships, but this does nothing to placate him, knowing He is the Messiah and having witnessed the healing of countless strangers.

#### Jew and Gentile

The two finally catch up with the group, who are in the midst of a standoff between various people groups displaced from the city of Abila due to the recent unrest. These include Jews, Nabateans, Syrophoenicians, and Greeks, and have been at odds with each other for quiet some time. At first they are recalcitrant to listen, until they watch Jesus restore a man's wounded leg.

The audience grows as Jesus teaches, requiring the Twelve to help preach to those sitting too far to hear His voice. Simon watches on in sullen silence, with a concerned John sticking by his side. By nightfall the crowds number in the thousands and the other apostles are starting to worry about supplying food. Simon insists Jesus will take care of the problem if He wants to, but they are disturbed by his embittered tone.

#### Five Loaves, Two Fish

The next day some of the Twelve start asking the crowds if any brought supplies, and a boy brings Andrew his lunch of two fish and five bread loaves. Though it is very little, Jesus orders the Apostles to each gather a basket and put pieces of the fish and bread in all of them. To their amazement the baskets are suddenly filled to overflowing, and they distribute the food until the whole crowd of 5,000+ is satisfied with the baskets still full. Simon however, feels further betrayed that Jesus seems to be helping strangers and gentiles over His close friends.

#### Crossing the Sea

While the crowds disperse, Jesus and the Twelve prepare to go home. Simon rents a boat for them to cross in, telling John he plans to quit the ministry once they reach Capernaum, believing his calling was a mistake. Their Rabbi stays behind to pray while the Apostles sail off and end up getting caught in a violent storm for several hours.

They are horrified to see a shadowy silhouette approach them on the water's surface, with several of them believing it to be a ghost. Simon however remains calm, and it proves to be Jesus walking on the water. Reaching the end of his rope at another reminder of Jesus's power, Simon demands that He call him to walk on the water also if He is truly who He claims to be. Jesus does so, despite the other disciples' panic and urging.

Simon steps out in faith (but not trust) and stands on the choppy waves. He then finally demands to know why Jesus is spending so much time helping strangers while those who've been at His side are suffering. Jesus assures him that He allows trials to prove the depth of one's faith, and this tribulation is strengthening him and Eden both, urging His friend to keep his eyes fixed on Him and promising rest for the heavy-laden.

#### "Don't Let Me Go!"

The cracks in Simon's faith start showing as he becomes distracted by the wind and waves around him, panicking as he sinks under the surface. Jesus pulls him back out and onto the boat, promising that there are many great things in store for Simon and holding him as the other man clings to his Rabbi and weeps, begging not to be let go. Jesus commands the storm be still and everything clears.

Simon returns home, beginning to feel peace again, and has an emotional reunion with Eden to start their journey of healing and reconciliation.

### Peter's Apostleship

#### Leading the Church

Simon Peter became one of the most prominent leaders of the Early Church. Its known that in some moment Jesus turned his name to Peter

#### Mourning Big James

Around fourteen years after Jesus' resurrection, Big James is killed with the sword by King Herod Agrippa, in an effort to suppress the Church. Simon, now Peter, and the other disciples meet in Jerusalem to sit Shiva to mourn James. Simon Peter was one of the eyewitnesses of Jesus' ministry that John interviewed, who plans to write down a book.

## Appearances

* *Season One*
	+ *I Have Called You By Name*
	+ *Shabbat*
	+ *The Rock On Which It Is Built*
	+ *The Wedding Gift*
	+ *Indescribable Compassion*
	+ *Invitations*
	+ *I Am He*
* *Season Two*
	+ *Thunder*
	+ *I Saw You*
	+ *Matthew 4:24*
	+ *The Perfect Opportunity*
	+ *Spirit*
	+ *Unlawful*
	+ *Reckoning*
	+ *Beyond Mountains*
* *Season Three*
	+ *Homecoming*
	+ *Two by Two*
	+ *Clean, Part 1*
	+ *Clean, Part 2*
	+ *Intensity in Tent City*
	+ *Ears to Hear*
	+ *Sustenance*