27. Hike the Bible – Peter of Capernaum 1

Posted by: BibleScienceGuy | December 20, 2012

27. Hike the Bible – Peter of Capernaum 1

Double Boatload of Fish Miracle
Peter: “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but at Your bidding I will let down the nets.”

Our virtual hike through Galilee has reached the ruins of Capernaum, the home base for Jesus’ ministry (Matthew 4:13). It was one of the most prominent towns of Jesus’ life.

Capernaum is mentioned 16 times in the Gospels and was the site for much of His teaching and many of His miracles. Matthew calls Capernaum Jesus’ “own city.” (Matthew 9:1; Mark 2:1)

This is the first of several blog posts on Capernaum’s most famous homeowner, the Apostle Peter (Mark 1:21,29). Peter is the dominant personage among the disciples in the Gospels. He was the leader of the apostles and of the early church.

The ruins of Peter’s house have been excavated in Capernaum. John says Bethsaida was the city of Andrew and Peter (John 1:44), but this probably means Bethsaida was the city of their birth or childhood and not necessarily their current hometown. This is similar to the “Jesus of Nazareth” references for Jesus, even though he had left Nazareth and resided in Capernaum during His years of ministry (Matthew 4:13).

Peter and his brother Andrew were partners in a prosperous Capernaum fishing business with James and John, the sons of Zebedee (Mark 1:19-20; Luke 5:6-10). The presence of hired servants indicates the prosperity of the business. Peter and Andrew had probably moved from Bethsaida to Capernaum for business reasons and to partner with the Zebedee family.

Peter is often called Simon or Simon Peter in the Gospels. Before he met Jesus, he was Simon bar-Jonah or Simon son of John. Jesus changed his name to Cephas or Peter meaning rock. (Mark 3:16; Matthew 16:17; John 1:42)

Peter was undoubtedly witness to most of the miracles reported in the Gospels, including many that are not recorded (John 20:30-31; 21:25). Peter was personally involved in the following miracles of Jesus.

Peter helped haul in nets breaking with fish in the Double Boatload of Fish miracle on the Sea of Galilee near Capernaum. (Luke 5:1-11)
Jesus Healed Peter’s Mother-in-law in Peter’s own home.
(Mark 1:29-31; Luke 4:38-39; Matthew 8:14-15)
He was surely in the boat when Jesus Stilled the Storm on the Sea of Galilee. (Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:36-41; Luke 8:22-25)
A woman with a 12-year hemorrhage furtively touched Jesus’ cloak in faith and was healed. When Jesus asked who touched Him, Peter replied, “Master, the multitudes are crowding and pressing upon You.” (Luke 8:43-48)
Jesus took Peter with Him when He raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead.
(Mark 5:22-43; Luke 8:41-56)
Peter Walked on Water with Jesus on the Sea of Galilee.
(Matthew 14:22-34; Mark 6:45-53; John 6:16-21)
Peter was one of 3 disciples present at the Transfiguration.
(Matthew 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:28-36; 2 Peter 1:16-18)
Peter found the Coin in the Fish’s Mouth to pay taxes for Jesus and himself. (Matthew 17:24-27)
At Jesus’ arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter cut off the right ear of Malchus, a slave of the high priest. Jesus immediately healed the wound.
(Luke 22:49-51; John 18:10; Matthew 26:51; Mark 14:47)
Peter was a witness to the greatest miracle of all, the Resurrection. Upon hearing of the empty tomb from Mary Magdalene, Peter ran to it, entered, and saw the discarded grave clothes (proving the body had not been stolen). Later Peter saw and conversed with the risen Jesus on multiple occasions.
(John 20:1-10; 20:19-29; 21:1-24; Matthew 28:16-20; Luke 24:33-51; Acts 1:1-12; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8)
Peter initiated the fishing trip that resulted in the disciples’ Miraculous Catch of Fish following Jesus’ Resurrection. Peter immediately leaped into the sea to swim to Jesus upon realizing who it was on the shore. (John 21:1-14)

This first-hand experience of Jesus’ miracles and teaching qualified Peter to be an authentic and credible witness to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.

Read the sequel in this sub-series on the life of Simon Peter of Capernaum:
28. Hike the Bible – Peter of Capernaum 2

Soli Deo Gloria.

The Hike the Bible series is currently covering points of interest along two hiking trails through Galilee, the 40-mile Jesus Trail and the 39-mile Gospel Trail. These two trails re-create possible routes Jesus likely traversed during His sojourns in Galilee.

Read the sequel:
28. Hike the Bible – Peter of Capernaum 2

©William T. Pelletier, Ph.D.
“contending earnestly for the faith” (Jude 1:3)
Thursday December 20, 2012 A.D.

Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people. (Matthew 4:23)