This first call led to no immediate change in Peter's external position. He and his fellow-disciples looked henceforth upon our Lord as their teacher, but were not commanded to follow him as regular disciples. There were several grades of disciples among the Jews, - from the occasional hearer to the follower who gave up all other pursuits in order to serve a master. At the time a recognition of his Person and office sufficed. They returned to Capernaum, where they pursued their usual business, waiting for a further intimation of his will.
The second call is recorded by the other three evan- gelists. It took place on the Sea of Galilee near Caper- naum, where the four disciples, Peter and Andrew, James and John, were fishing. A.D. 27. Peter and Andrew were first called. Our Lord then entered Simon Peter's boat, and addressed the multitude on the shore ; after the conclusion of the discourse he wrought the miracle by which he foreshadowed the success of the apostles in the new but analogous occupation which was to be theirs — that of fishers of men. The call of James and John followed. From that time the four were certainly enrolled formally among his disciples, and although as yet invested with no official character, accompanied him in his journeys, those especially in the north of Pales- tine.
Immediately after that call our Lord went to the house of Peter, where he wrought the miracle of heal- ing on Peter's wife's mother, a miracle succeeded by other manifestations of divine power which produced a deep impression upon the people. Some time was passed afterwards in attendance upon our Lord's public minis- trations in Galilee, Decapolis, Peraja,and Judsa — though at intervals the disciples returned to their own city, and were witnesses of many miracles, of the call of Levi, and of their Master's reception of outcasts, whom they in common with their zealous but prejudiced country- men had despised and shunned. It was a period of training, of mental and spiritual discipline preparatory to their admission to the higher office to which they were destined. Even then Peter received some marks of distinction. He was selected, together with the two sons of Zebedee, to witness the raising of Jarius's daugh- ter.
The special designation of Peter and his eleven fel- low-disciples took place some time afterwards, when they were set apart as our Lord's immediate attendants, and as his delegates to go forth wherever he might send them, as apostles, announcers of his kingdom, gifted witli supernatural powers as credentials of their super- natural mission (see Matt, x, 2-4; Mark iii, 13-19, the most detailed account; Luke vi, 13). They appear then first to have formally received the name of Apos- tles, and from that time Simon bore publicly, aud as it would seem all but exclusively, the name Peter, which had hitherto been used rather as a characteristic appel- lation than as a proper name.
From this time there can be no doubt that Peter held the first place among the apostles, to whatever cause his precedence is to be attributed. There was certainly much in his character which marked him as a repre- sentative man; both in his strength and in his weak- ness, in his excellences and his defects he exemplified the changes which the natural man undergoes in the gradual transformation into the spiritual man under the personal influence of the Saviour. The precedence did not depend upon priority of call, or it would have de- volved upon his brother Andrew, or that other disciple who first followed Jesus. It seems scarcely probable that it depended upon seniority, even supposing, which is a mere conjecture, that he was older than his fellow- disciples. The special designation by Christ alone ac-
PETER
a satisfactory way for the facta that lie is ret in every list of the apostles, i- generally ad- bj our Lord as t In ir representative, and on the Bpeaks in their name. Thus when the t i r - 1 great secession took place in consequence of the offence given by <>ur Lord'* mystic discourse al Capernaum (see John vi, 66 69 , "Jesus said nnto the u ill ye also go away? rben Simon Peter an- swered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hasl the words of eternal life: and we believe and are Bure thai thou art that Christ, the Son of the H Thus again at CsBsarea Philippi, soon after the return twelve from i In ir tir-t missionary tour, Peter (speaking as before in the name of the twelve, though, its from our Lord's won!-, with a peculiar dis- ..i personal conviction) repeated thai declara- tion, "Tbon an tin' Christ, the Son ..ft he living God." The confirmation of our apostle in his Bpecial position in the Church, bis identification with the rock on which thai Church i- founded, the ratification of the powers ami duties attached to the apostolic office, and the prom- ise of permanence to the Church, followed as a reward of thai confession. The early Church regarded Peter generally, and mosl especially on this occasion, as the tative "t the apostolic bodj a very distinct theory from thai which makes him their head or gov- ernor in Christ's Btead. Even in the time- of Cyprian, nnection with the bishop of Ri mi as Pi ter's r r.r the first time was held to be indispensable, era of jurisdiction «r supremacy were supposed t.. be attached i" the admitted precedency of rank. / Pi ter held no distinct office, and