Reading about Peter in the Bible has prompted a question that has been useful in my practice of Christian Science: “Am I acting like Peter in the Gospel accounts, or Peter in the Acts of the Apostles?”
Peter’s struggles as he learned to follow Christ Jesus are described in the Gospels. Often he appeared to battle pride—and he was sometimes impetuous, unthinking, and brash. At other times, when his human courage failed him, he was timid, doubting, and fearful. After successfully accepting Jesus’ invitation to walk on the water, he became afraid and began to sink. He fell asleep in the garden of Gethsemane three times after Jesus asked him to pray. He cut off the high priest’s servant’s ear in anger during Jesus’ arrest. And prior to the crucifixion, he denied even knowing Jesus three times (see Matthew 14:22–31 and 26:36–45; John 18:10, 11; Luke 22:54–62).
Conversely, Peter in the book of Acts was a changed man. His pride had been replaced by a humble and deep faith in God, enabling him to speak boldly to both Jewish and Gentile audiences. He led the Pentecost prayers and publicly affirmed the descent of the Holy Spirit to be the work of God. He helped establish the early Christian Church and healed as he had been taught by Jesus.
