CERCADO, Geran Kearn L.

RE 114 7:30 – 9:30AM

BSA-2

1. Biography of Simon Peter

St. Peter, who used to go by the name Simon, was a fisherman by profession. Peter,
along with his brother Andrew, James, and John, were called by Jesus to leave everything
behind and obey Him. “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men,” Jesus said
(Matthew 4:19).
Because of Peter's confession of faith in Jesus as Messiah, Jesus gave him the nickname
"rock" and said that the Church would rise on the rock of Peter's faith (Matthew 16:18).
When naming the apostles of Jesus, all of the Gospel writers placed Peter first. Peter, on
the other hand, repeatedly shows in the Gospels that his faith is weak but growing. He
says things that irritate Jesus: he denies that Jesus' impending death should be allowed
to happen (Matthew 16:22), assures Jesus at the Last Supper that he would never wash
his feet (John 13:8), and denies association with Jesus three times, despite Jesus'
prediction that he will (Luke 22:61).
St. Peter can demonstrate how challenging discipleship can be, but he can also
demonstrate how the Lord chooses the poor and strengthens them in bearing witness to
Him. In the year 64, in Rome, where he served as the city's first bishop, Peter was
martyred (crucified upside down on a cross) for the Faith. The feast of St. Peter's primacy,
which falls on February 22nd, is St. Peter's feast day.

2. Biography of St. Paul

Paul, who was originally known as Saul, was a Roman citizen who was an educated
Jew and a member of the Pharisee party. He first appears in the Bible in Acts 7:58, where
he is mentioned as being present at the martyrdom of St. Stephen, the first of Jesus'
followers to be stoned to death for his religion. Saul brutally persecuted Christians, but
after seeing Jesus in a vision, he was suddenly converted to the same One he had been
persecuting (Acts 9:4). From then on, Saul, now known as Paul, used the same energy
he used to persecute Christ's followers to spread the Gospel of Jesus to a large number
of people.
Paul traveled the length and breadth of the Roman Empire, creating Christian
communities along the way. His many letters make up the majority of the New
Testament's writings. Three years after St. Peter, in the year 67 AD, Paul was martyred
in Rome by being beheaded (His Roman citizenship would not permit his being crucified).
The feast of his conversion falls on January 25th.
 3. Compare and Contrast
DIFFERENCES
Simon Peter Paul
Chosen to work with Him Not among the disciples or apostles
Born in Bethsaide, lived in Capernaum Born in Tarsus of Cilicia and went to
Jerusalem
Married Celibate Virgin
Began with love, confidence and faith Began with enmity as persecutor of the
Church
A simple uneducated fisherman Well-red, Highly educated, and disciple of
Gamaliel
Impulsive Enthusiastic
Began his mission in old age Began his mission as a young man
Had few disciples (Mark) Had many disciples (Timothy, Titus, Luke
… etc)
Evangelized to Jews Evangelized to Gentiles
Wrote 2 Epistles (8 Chapters) to Jews (in Wrote 14 Epistles (100 Chapters) to the
dispersion) Romans and churches of the Gentiles
Simple in his writing Wrote about complex theology and
Christian philosophy

Despite their many differences, Peter and Paul both repented and truly followed the
Lord, allowing their hearts to be converted to his will for the remainder of their lives, never
denying him again. They served the Lord faithfully for decades after Jesus respectively
called each of them to follow him, collaborating with other Apostles as they served the
early Church.
Reference:

http://stsppschool.org/wordpress/?page_id=123

https://www.slideshare.net/antimena/a-tale-of-two-saints-st-peter-and-st-paul

https://epicpew.com/saints-peter-pauls-key-differences-one-key-similarity-went-great-
sinners-great-saints/