Simon-Peter was, perhaps, the leading

apostle. He is invariably mentioned first in the

lists of the twelve. He had moments of

weakness, but his commitment to the faith is

demonstrated by his eventual martyrdom.

John 1:42 reads:

‘He brought him to Jesus, who looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You

are to be called Cephas" (which is translated Peter)’

Matt. 16:16-18 gives more detail:

‘Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." And Jesus

answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not

revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this

rock I will build my church..’.

‘Peter’ is the Greek translation of the Aramaic ‘Cephas’. The name ‘Cephas’ was given to

Simon to reflect the role that he was to have in the believing community. It was not a

nickname in the modern sense of the word. There was no humor associated with it, and it

is clear from the NT usage that it was not used preferentially in contexts of familiarity or

endearment. Nor is Jesus making a ‘pun’ in Matt. 16:18, as some have supposed. Rather,

the name was given because of the foundational role that it was hoped Simon would play

in the believing community. Paul referred to Simon in 1 Corinthians, where he consistently

used the name ‘Cephas’. In Galatians, though, he used ‘Cephas’ at 1:18, but switched to

‘Peter’ at 2:7 and 2:8, and then immediately switched back to ‘Cephas’ at 2:9, 11 and 14.

Why did Paul temporarily select the name ‘Peter’ at Gal 2:7-8, against his normal usage?

The answer is clear from the context. Gal 2:7-8 reads

‘…Peter had been entrusted with the gospel for the circumcised for he who worked through

Peter making him an apostle to the circumcised also worked through me in sending me to

the Gentiles’.

Here Paul acknowledges Peter’s primal role as apostle (to the Jews) so it is appropriate

that he should use the Greek version of the name (Peter), which would be readily

understood by Paul’s audience. In an English translation the correct sense is given by

replacing the word ‘Peter’ in Gal. 2:7-8 with the words ‘The Rock’. The fact that Paul uses

the name ‘Peter’ in these verses and only in these verses, demonstrates that Paul and the

Galatians understood the name to signify Simon’s apostolic importance. It cannot be

argued that the significance of the name ‘Peter’ was later invented by Matthew's

community or subsequent generations of Christians.

The new name, Peter (rock), represents saving strength and is closely paralleled by the

cases of James-Oblias (Bulwark of the people),Mary-Magdalene

(tower/fortress/stronghold), Crispus-Sosthenes (saving strength), and also Jesus (YHWH

saves) and John the Baptist. Other possible parallels include Jason-Aristarchus (best

leader) and Gaius-Alexander (defender of men).

His father's name was "John", so the name "BarJonah" in Matt. 16:17 may not be a

patronymic at all. Jesus may here be giving him an impromptu nickname. There are

several possibilities for its possible significance.

The name ‘Simon’ is actually Greek, but naturally substitutes for the Hebrew ‘Symeon’. He

therefore had four names in all: Symeon, Simon, Cephas, and Peter.

It is argued here that Peter fled to Antioch after his escape from prison.

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