Saint Peter (1-67 AD), born Simon Peter, was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ and the first Pope, reigning from 30 AD to 67 AD (preceding Pope Linus). Jesus made Peter his successor when he told him that, upon his rock ("Petrus" is Latin for rock) he would build his church. Peter was martyred in 64 AD during the reign of Nero, and he chose to be crucified upside-down rather than die in the same fashion as Jesus.
Biography[]
Peter's crucifixion
Peter was a fisherman from Bethsaida on the eastern side of Lake Tiberias (in the Golan Heights of Syria), and was introduced to Jesus Christ while he was preaching his new religion to the people of Judaea. He was one of the Twelve Apostles, one of the main disciples of Jesus who helped to spread Christianity. However, he denied knowing of Jesus three times the day before his crucifiction, as Jesus predicted, but he was the first man to go to the tomb of Jesus. In 30 AD, he became the first Pope, the leader of Christianity. He was responsible for the spread of the new religion, despite the Roman emperors' condemnation of those who were believers in the words of Jesus.
Peter was one of the men blamed for starting the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD, and alongside Paul the Apostle, he was executed by crucifixion in 67. His arms were outstretched, and he was crucified upside down at his request - he wished to suffer and be killed upside down so that he would not die in the same manner as his savior Jesus. Peter is one of the best-known saints, due to his being the first Pope as well as due to his love of Jesus and guilt over his execution.
