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Peter (Greek surname of an apostle)
the Greek surname of an apostle of Jesus. It is the rendering of the East Aramæan kepha, a corruption or derivation from Heb. keph a rock, S-petrus.ap STATUE OF ST. PETER, FLORENCE, ITALY and was given by Jesus (John 1: 40-42).
Peter's real name was Simon (Matt. x: 2; Luke iv: 38, v: 3, 5, etc.), his father's Jonas (John xxi: 15), his brother's Andrew (Matt. iv: 18). Peter was born at PETER Bethsaida (John i: 44), but had removed apostle of Jesus. It is the rendering of to Capernaum, where he had a house, being a married man (Matt. viii: 14; Marki: 30; Luke iv: 38; I Cor. ix: 5).
He was one of the 3 of the 12 apostles selected on three occasions by Jesus for special honor. The power of the Keys was first bestowed on him (Matt. xvi: 13-20), though afterward also on the other apostles (xviii: 1). Peter was of an impulsive temperament, generous, but too forward in speech (xvi: 22, 23), and rash in action (John xviii: 10). It was not natural cowardice, but because through his rashness he had committed himself, and was in danger of arrest, that made him deny his Lord (Matt. xxvi: 51-75). After the Ascension, he was for a time the most prominent of the apostles (Acts i: 15, ii: 14, etc., iii: 1- 26; iv: 8, 9, v: 1-16), and though specially sent to the Jews (Gal. ii: 8), yet had the privilege of being the first to admit Gentiles into the Church (Acts x: 1-48). Afterward he was somewhat cast into the shade by the eminence of St. Paul. Tradition makes him die as a martyr at Rome, about A. D. 64, crucified with his head downward. Roman Catholics claim him as the first Bishop of Rome, and consider that the authority delegated him by Jesus appertains also to his successors, the Popes of Rome.
The First Epistle General of Peter, an epistle which claims to have been written by the Apostle Peter (i: 1), apparently from Babylon (v: 13), "to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia" (i: 1), all places in Asia Minor. These strangers were obviously Christian converts, the majority apparently Gentiles (i: 14, ii: 10, iv: 3). Their churches were in charge of elders (v: 4). They were in suffering (i: 6), which the apostle foresaw would deepen into severe persecution (iv: 12-18). He exhorts them to steadfastness, to careful avoidance of crime and scandal. Its date is uncertain, probably between A. D. 60 and A. D. 64. There is strong evidence for its authenticity, which has rarely been doubted.
The Second Epistle of Peter, another epistle claiming to have been penned by the Apostle (i: 1), the author also referring to the transfiguration scene as one which he personally witnessed (i: 17, 18), and to a previous epistle (iii: 1).
In this second letter he seeks to establish Christians in the faith, warns them against false teachers, and predicts the general conflagration of the world. Its style is different from that of the first.
When it was published, the epistles of St. Paul had been collected, and formed PETER part of New Testament Scripture (iii: 15-16). The evidence for its authenticity is much less strong than that for the first epistle.
PETER I., ALEXEIEVITCH, usually styled PETER THE GREAT, Czar of Russia; born in sia; born in 1672; and in 1689 he obtained the sole authority, on the retirement of his brother Ivan, with whom he had been before associated in the government of the empire. After having suppressed a conspiracy of the Strelitzes against his life, he traveled in foreign countries, not in the character of czar, but as a member of an embassy.
At Amsterdam he worked, incognito, a shipyard, went to the village of Saardam, where he caused himself to be enamong the workmen, under the name of Peter Michaeloff. Induced by his love for the sea to accept the invitaof William III. to visit London, he 00000 PETER THE GREAT spent some weeks there, keenly observing and learning all that he could of trade, manufactures, and the arts. Having proceeded to Vienna, he there received intelligence of a new rebellion of the Strelitzes, on which he returned home, crushed the insurrection, and visited the rebels with fearful severity. In 1700 he entered upon a war with Sweden. He was defeated by his great rival, Charles XII., at the battle of Narva, and the war went on with various results till 1709, when he completely defeated Charles Charles at Pultawa. In the following year the Sultan declared war on him, and he narrowly escaped capture by the Turks in the campaign of 1711. This war ended in 1713. Not satisfied with Vol. VII--Cyc PETER his immense power as czar, Peter had suppressed the patriarchate, and made himself head of the Church as well as of the State. In 1703 he founded St. Petersburg, and began the fortifications of Cronstadt. Three years later he privately married Catharine, a girl of low origin and immoral character; married her publicly in 1710, and had her crowned in 1722. Peter extended the limits of the empire both in Europe and Asia; changed the face of Russia by his zealous promotion of trade, navigation, manufactures, and education; and after a ceived the title of Emperor of all the conclusion of peace with Sweden, reconclusion of peace with Sweden, re- Reforming others, he failed to reform Russias, and Father of his Country. himself, but remained to the last an igpolicy has been adhered to by his succes- norant, coarse, brutal savage. His state sors. Peter I. died in St. Petersburg, after very severe suffering, Jan. 28, 1725.
PETER II., Emperor of Russia; born in 1714; the son of Alexis and grandson of Peter the Great. He succeeded, in 1727, the Empress Catharine, who had declared him Grand-Duke of Russia the year preceding. The most remarkable event of his reign was the disgrace of the prime minister Menschikoff, who was banished to Siberia. He died in 1730.
PETER III., Emperor of Russia; the son of Anne, eldest daughter of Peter the Great; born in 1728, and succeeded Elizabeth in 1762. He married the Princess Sophia Augusta of Anhalt, whose name he changed to Catharine, and, being inspired with grand and martial thoughts, attempted to govern his empire on the model of Frederick the Great; but, wanting capacity, energy, and courage, he signally failed. His empress, being apprised of his intention of divorcing her and bastardizing his son, Paul, anticipated his design, and, exciting a revolution, took him prisoner, and compelled him to sign a most humiliating abdication.
After this, being sent to the fortress of Robscha, he there mysteriously disappeared in 1762.
King of Serbia; born in Belgrade in 1846, PETER I., KARAGEORGEVITCH , named "Black George," (Kara-george), a grandson of George Petrovitch, sursuccessful revolution against Turkish a peasant leader of the people who led a sovereignty, and was recognized by the Sultan as Prince of Serbia in 1812. His son, Alexander, father of Peter, was deposed in 1858, and left the country with his son. gary, but later became a cadet at the Peter was educated in Hun- French military school at St. Cyr.
Graduating, he received a commission in