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An “Interview” with Peter, the Apostle (Part 3)

by Bryan Gibson

January 29, 2010

This week will conclude our series of “interviews” with Peter.

Question: You spoke earlier about the miracles you saw Jesus perform. Tell us now about the miracles you performed.

Answer: Like the other apostles, I did perform a number of miracles, some while Jesus was still with us (Matthew 10:1; Mark 3:14-15; 6:7; Luke 9:1-2), and then many more after He ascended to heaven (Acts 2:43; 5:12-16). I’ll mention a few in particular. I healed a man in his forties, who had been lame from birth (Acts 3:1-9; 4:22), as well as a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed (Acts 9:32-34). I also raised from the dead a lady named Dorcas, who was well known among the saints in Joppa for her good works and charitable deeds (Acts 9:36-42). Unlike the acts performed by at least one man we met (Acts 8:9-13), these were all genuine miracles, a fact that even our enemies could not deny (Acts 4:15-16).

Question: What was the purpose behind these miracles?

Answer: Not fame or fortune, I can assure you of that. We were always careful to give credit to Jesus, because it was in His name and by His power that we performed these miracles (Acts 3:12-16; 4:8-10). He baptized us (apostles) with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-8; 2:32-33), which not only gave us the power to preach (and later write) by inspiration, but also the power to perform these miracles. These miracles were designed to confirm that what we were preaching was indeed the truth (Mark 16:20; Hebrews 2:3-4). In other words, performing these miracles in His name would persuade people that we were also preaching in His name. Unfortunately, there were some who tried to use the name of Jesus to perform signs—without proper authority (Acts 19:11-17). The Lord certainly made them wish they hadn’t done that. One other thing about these miracles—they were never intended to last through the ages, only until the word of the Lord could be fully revealed and confirmed.

Question: In the early years of the church, many Jewish Christians were resistant to receiving the Gentiles, unless they became circumcised and kept the law of Moses (Acts 15:1-5). What was your stance on this?

Answer: It took me awhile, but when God sent me to preach to the Gentiles (Cornelius and his family), I learned the truth—that God shows no partiality (Acts 10:34); that whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him (Acts 10:35); that we should no longer bind the law of Moses (Acts 15:10); that salvation through faith in Jesus Christ is available to all men (Acts 15:8-9, 11).

Question: Anything else you would like to say that we haven’t covered?

Answer: “Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility” (1 Peter 5:5). It’s hard to imagine now, but in the hours leading up to the arrest of our Savior, the other apostles and I actually argued about who would be the greatest (Luke 22:24). Jesus put us all to shame that same night when He laid aside His garments, girded himself with a towel, poured water into a basin and began to wash our feet and wipe them with that same towel (John 13:3-5). When our Lord says, “be clothed with humility,” He’s only asking us to do what He has already done.