What is Saint Peter known for?

Answer 1

We have no contemporary accounts of Peter, other than the epistles of Paul, which appear to describe Peter as second to James in the Jerusalem Church, possibly as late as the fifties of the first century, but do not mention any great works of Peter. Christian tradition says that Peter later moved to Rome and led the Christian community there, but there is no evidence for this tradition. The tradition that Peter was martyred appears to have started with the mid-second century pope Anicetus (156-166), who had tried to win an argument with the venerable Polycarp of Smyrna on a matter of theology. Polycarp said that he spoke with the authority of the apostle John, and in response, Anicetus said that Peter was beheaded by Nero in Rome and that he spoke with the authority of Peter. In the third century, the Church Father Origen changed the story to that of crucifixion, saying that Peter, condemned to crucifixion, felt himself unworthy to be crucified the same way as his Lord, and so chose crucifixion upside down.

The most reliable account of any great works performed by Peter is to be found in Acts of the Apostles, believed to have been written some fifty years after the death of Peter. This reports that many wondrous miracles were associated with Peter. Acts 5:15 records that Peter was reputed to be able to cure the sick, even if just his shadow passed over them: "Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them."

According to Acts, Peter must have converted many thousands in Jerusalem, such that it is surprising that by the time of the Roman-Jewish War (66-70 CE), the Christians appear to have still been an insignificant portion of the total population. Two examples from Acts: (2:41): "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls."; (4:4) "Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand."

An important, well disguised theme of Acts of the Apostles is the primacy of St Peter over St Paul during the period of their respective ministries. Peter and Paul are both reported as performing comparable miracles, but in each case Paul's miracle was matched by at least one even more awe-inspiring and worthy miracle performed by St. Peter.

According to Acts, Paul's first miraculous cure was improbably similar to Peter's first cure. In both cases, a man who had been lame since birth was immediately cured by being commanded to stand and walk. Peter's first miracle cure was performed in the name of Jesus, at the Temple, where the faithful saw the healed beggar praising God, and was the opportunity for some outstanding proselytising. Paul's first cure was clumsy and without apparent purpose, given that Paul did not tell the man about Jesus and he was even mistaken for a pagan god.

In an even more difficult challenge, Peter resurrected Tabitha, a good woman and a disciple, who was certainly dead and her body had already been washed. This miracle became known throughout Joppa and, as a result, many were converted (Acts 9:36-42). Paul also resuscitated a young man who foolishly fell asleep in an upper storey window and fell to the ground. There is some uncertainty as to whether the young man was really dead when Paul intervened to revive him, and the miracle did not present an opportunity to convert unbelievers. Peter's miracle was once again subtly superior to Paul.

Peter and Paul were also capable of malevolent miracles. In an apparent miracle, Paul blinded Elymas (Bar-Jesus) the sorcerer, for trying to frustrate his attempts to convert Sergius Paulus. But Peter was to be feared more than Paul. A certain man named Ananias sold a possession and gave only some of the proceeds to Peter, who believed that the church was entitled to all the money. Peter realised the deceit immediately and Ananias fell dead. Later, Peter told Ananias' wife she would also die, because she repeated the deceit (Acts 5:1-10).

One could wonder whether these examples owe more to hagiology than to any real events. Either a wish to venerate St. Peter or conversely to eliminate existing and perhaps worrying worship of St. Paul. Either way, the conclusion is that the great works described in Acts of the Apostles are really just literary creations. We do not know of any great works performed by Saint Peter.

Answer 2

Saint Peter is known for being one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ and is considered the first Pope of the Catholic Church. He is also known for his strong faith and role in spreading Christianity.

Answer 3

For being a great saint

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Catholic AnswerSt. Peter is remembered for many things, the many times in the Gospels when he is the first to speak, his commissioning by Jesus after his confession that Jesus is the Christ, etc. He is most especially remembered each day in the Church as we pray for the Holy Father, his successor. Each Pope is a successor of St. Peter. In other words, Pope Benedict XVI did NOT succeed John Paul II, in the Church's language, Pope Benedict XVI is the latest successor to St. Peter.

from A Catholic Dictionary, edited by Donald Attwater, Second edition, revised 1957

Peter, Saint. i. The name and figure of Peter is frequently used, both in words and pictorial symbolism, as a personification of the Church, the pope, and bishop of Rome, etc.; he being the first pope and bishop of Rome, prince of the Apostles, vicar of Jesus Christ, and human foundation of the Church. Peter's primacy of jurisdiction, carried on by every pope since, is an article of faith. His chief feast kept universally with that of St. Paul is on June 29, probably the day of the translation of their relics; traditionally they both suffered in Rome on the same day, probably Aug 1, about the year 67 in the persecution of Nero, Peter being crucified head downwards in the circus of Nero on the Vatican Hill, Paul being slain by the sword at the Tre Fontane, near the Ostian Way; Peter's body lies in the basilica of his name, Paul's in St. Paul's-outside-the-Walls. . . . In every office of St. Peter a commemoration is made of St. Paul, and vice-versa, and they are twice named together in the [Roman] Canon of the Mass.

ii. His epistles. Two letters written by Peter to the Christians of various provinces in Asia Minor are included in the canon of Holy Scripture. The general intention of both was the strengthening of faith, encouragement of virtue, and comfort in distress; the second, like St. Paul's 2 Timothy, was written in view of the writer's approaching end.

Answer 4

When he told Jesus he loved him and would never deny knowing him and by the end of the night he had denied knowing him 3 times.

Roman Catholic AnswerHe is primarily well known, by the world, by being the leader of the apostles in the the Gospels, and be writing 2 of the letters in the New Testament. He is well known in the Catholic Church as he was the first Pope chosen by Our Blessed Lord to lead His Church, and every pope since that is a successor of Saint Peter.

Answer 5

Peter was known for being an apostle, the brother of St. Andrew, the first pope and for being crucified upside down.

Answer 6

Peter was chosen by Our Lord to be the first leader of His church - the first pope. He was imprisoned and martyred on an upside-down cross.