Biographical dossier
Saint Peter
Simon Peter appears in the Gospels and Acts as an apostle called by Christ, spokesman of the Twelve, witness of the Resurrection and leading figure in the first Jerusalem community. His martyrdom at Rome and the Roman succession attached to his office belong to the earliest post-apostolic historical memory.
Chronology and historical sequence
The profile follows the Gospel call, confession at Caesarea Philippi, Passion narratives, Resurrection appearances, Pentecost, the Jerusalem mission, the opening to Cornelius, the apostolic council and the Roman martyrdom tradition.
Primary witnesses
- Matthew 16, Luke 22 and John 21 are central to Peter’s commission.
- Acts 1–12 and 15 documents his public role in the apostolic Church.
- Galatians 1–2 gives Paul’s independent testimony to Cephas.
- 1 Clement 5, Ignatius to the Romans 4 and Irenaeus, Against Heresies 3.3 preserve early Roman memory.
Office, vocation and historical agency
Peter’s historical role must be read both personally and institutionally: apostle, witness, shepherd and point of visible unity. Later papal history does not erase the first-century evidence, and the first-century evidence is not reduced to a later title list.
Geographic itinerary
Bethsaida and Galilee frame the call; Jerusalem frames the Passion and apostolic beginnings; Joppa and Caesarea belong to the Cornelius episode; Antioch appears in Galatians; Rome belongs to the martyrdom and succession tradition.
Source path
- Mt 16:13–20; Lk 22:31–32; Jn 21:15–19
- Acts 1–12; 15; Gal 1–2
- 1 Clement 5; Irenaeus, Against Heresies 3.3.2; Eusebius, Church History 2.25
Catalogue record and limits
- Research ID
- catholon:person:person:wd:Q33923
- Catalogue ID
- person:wd:Q33923
- Indexed life span
- -1 to 67
- Source index
- PANTHEON_2_2020
The catalogue dates and point anchors support identity and navigation. They do not replace the textual chronology, doctrinal judgement or critical biography above.