Peter:The Man Of Power
“And the believers were the more added
to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.
Insomuch that they brought forth the
sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the
shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.”
Acts 5:14-15
Peter was the chief disciple of Jesus Christ. In every listing of the disciples Peter is
always mentioned first. His name is
mentioned 146 times in the Gospels and 57 times in Acts. He consistently takes the lead and seems to be a “born leader.” He was quick to ask Jesus questions and to
give advice. He revealed that Jesus was
the Christ and exercised faith by trying to walk on water. He is the only one who tried to protect the
Lord on the night of His betrayal. He is the most prominent person in the first
12 chapters of Acts. He was the
native of a small fishing village called Bethsaida but moved his business to
the larger, commercial city of Capernaum.
He owned a large house there and was a very successful businessman. He likely had a primary school education and
was referred to by the Sanhedrin in Acts 4 as “ignorant and unlearned.”
His character is one of the most charming in the New Testament because it shows his
humanness. He was eager, energetic, impulsive, confident, bold, daring, but
also weak, and cowardly. He was tenderhearted, self-sacrificing, and loving. He
quickly moves from one extreme to another. He was inconsistent, unstable, and
outspoken. When empowered by the Spirit he became powerful, stable, humble,
bold and an individual full of courage.
The Gospel
accounts close with Peter defeated and having denied the Lord. The Thompson Chain Reference Bible gives
seven steps to his fall:
1. Conceit
Matthew 26:33
2. Ease Matthew
26:40
3. Rashness
John 18:10-11
4. Following afar off Matthew 26:58
5. Evil Associations John 18:18
6. Open Denial John
18:25
7. Blasphemy Mark
14:70-71
As you read the Book of Acts you can easily see that:
Þ Peter
was a man of power and had great influence in the Early Church.
Þ He
was easily the most powerful person in the Early Church.
Þ He
was a bold preacher, prayer warrior, and used in the Gifts of the Spirit.
Þ He
gave wise direction and supervision to the church.
Þ Peter
was a leader.
Þ Although
Peter had power we never read of him misusing it.
Þ He
did not involve himself in a power struggle nor did he seem to be power hungry.
Þ Even
though Peter had been given the Keys to the Kingdom, preached the first
Pentecostal sermon, and was the speaker for the group we do not find him
assuming authority.
Þ He
did not try to exercise authority over the others.
Þ He
seems to have been respected by the others and looked up to as their leader.
Þ He
is even the one that Paul went to see after his own conversion (Galatians 1:18)
Þ Not
only did he preach the first Pentecostal sermon he also performed the first
Pentecostal miracle.
Þ In
his miracle ministry he exposed the sin of Ananias and Sapphira.
Þ He
could have used his association with Jesus and his anointing to promote himself
but he didn’t.
Þ People
brought their sick hoping that his shadow would overshadow them.
Eugene Peterson in The Message writes, “Peter...exhibits
the qualities of Jesus that the Holy Spirit shaped in him: a readiness to
embrace suffering rather than prestige, a wisdom developed from experience and
not imposed from a book, a humility that lacked nothing in vigor and
imagination. From what we know of the early stories of Peter he had in him all
the makings of a bully. That he didn’t become a bully (and religious bullies
are the worst kind) but rather the boldly confident and humbly self-effacing
servant of Jesus Christ...is a compelling witness to what he describes as a
brand-new life, with everything to live for.”
(Note:
A ‘bully’ is “someone who enjoys
oppressing others weaker than himself.”
Webster’s Encyclopedic Dictionary of the English Language)
So many leaders today would have misused this power and
would try to manipulate people. Peter
has given a wonderful example for all leaders to follow.
Peter
In the Book of Acts
Acts 1:1-26 Part of the 120
Acts 2:1-47 Pentecost’s Spokesman/Preacher
Acts 3:1-11 Heals Lame Man
Acts 4:1-35 Boldly Stands Before Sanhedrin
Acts 5:1-11 Exposes Ananias and Sapphira
Acts 5:17-42 Gamaliel
Acts 8:14-25 Deals with Simon the Sorcerer
Acts 9:32-35 Heals the Cripple
Acts 9:36-43 Dorcas Raised from the
Dead
Acts 10:1-48 Preached to the Gentiles
Acts 11:1-18 Defends His Actions
Acts
12:1-24 Peter and the Angel
What
Can We Learn from Peter’s Life
The Revell Bible Dictionary suggests
areas that we can learn from the life of Peter.
I have adapted these here:
Peter
Walks on the Water
(Matthew 14:22-33)
Even though his faith wavered he had courage to step out
onto the water.
Peter
Rebukes Jesus
(Matthew 16: 21-28)
If we accept Jesus we must submit our understanding to Him
also.
Jesus
Predicts Peter’s Denial
(Mark 14:27-31)
Peter learned that he was truly weak. We must rely on God rather than ourselves.
Jesus Restores Peter
(John
21:15-25)
God can use us despite our failures.
Peter Preaches the First Sermon
(Acts 2)
God will back up His Word with results.
Peter
Welcomes the Gentiles
(Acts 11)
When attacked about preaching to the Gentiles he carefully
related what happened and explained how God had led him. He showed wisdom and courtesy in his actions.
Paul Berates Peter for Discrimination
(Galatians 2:11-21)
No matter how important we may be, we still need others to
rebuke us when we are wrong. We are not
above mistakes or correction.
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