Catholic Bible Traces: Peter & The Papacy

Know the Faith. Defend the Faith

Saint Peter is always mentioned first, as the foremost apostle.

Matthew 10:1-4

1 And having called together his twelve disciples, he gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out and to cure every sickness and every infirmity.

2 Now the names of the twelve Apostles are these: the First, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother,

3 James of Zebedee, and John his brother, Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector, and James of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus,

4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

Mark 3:15-19

15 And he gave them authority to cure infirmities, and to cast out demons:

16 and he imposed on Simon the name Peter;

17 and also he imposed on James of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, the name 'Boanerges,' that is, 'Sons of Thunder;'

18 and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus, and Simon the Canaanite,

19 and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

Luke 6:13-16

13 And when daylight had arrived, he called his disciples. And he chose twelve out of them (whom he also named Apostles):

14 Simon, whom he surnamed Peter, and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,

15 Matthew and Thomas, James of Alphaeus, and Simon who is called the Zealot,

16 and Jude of James, and Judas Iscariot, who was a traitor.

Acts 1:13

13 And when they had entered into the cenacle, they ascended to the place where Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Jude of James, were staying.

Peter Speaks for the apostles.

Matthew 18:21

21 Then Peter, drawing near to him, said: "Lord, how many times shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Even seven times?"

Mark 8:29

29 Then he said to them, "Yet truly, who do you say that I am?" Peter responded by saying to him, "You are the Christ."

Saint Peter worked the first healing.

Acts 3:6-7

6 But Peter said: "Silver and gold is not mine. But what I have, I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, rise up and walk."

7 And taking him by the right hand, he lifted him up. And immediately his legs and feet were strengthened.

Gentiles to be baptized is revealed to Peter.

Acts 10:46-48

46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and magnifying God.

47 Then Peter responded, "How could anyone prohibit water, so that those who have received the Holy Spirit would not be baptized, just as we also have been?"

48 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then they begged him to remain with them for some days.

Simon is Cephas (Aramaic: Kepha for rock)

John 1:42

42 And he led him to Jesus. And Jesus, gazing at him, said: "You are Simon, son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas," (which is translated as Peter).

St. Peter is given the Keys to the Kingdom

Matthew 16:18-19

18 And I say to you, that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.

19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound, even in heaven. And whatever you shall release on earth shall be released, even in heaven."

Keys are a symbol of authority

Isaiah 22:22

22 And I will place the key of the house of David upon his shoulder. And when he opens, no one will close. And when he closes, no one will open.

Revelation 1:18

18 And I am alive, though I was dead. And, behold, I live forever and ever. And I hold the keys of death and of Hell.

Feed my Sheep

John 21:17

17 He said to him a third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was very grieved that he had asked him a third time, "Do you love me?" And so he said to him: "Lord, you know all things. You know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my sheep.”

“Strengthen your brethren”

Luke 22:31-32

31 And the Lord said: "Simon, Simon! Behold, Satan has asked for you, so that he may sift you like wheat.

32 But I have prayed for you, so that your faith may not fail, and so that you, once converted, may confirm your brothers."