In the Synoptic Gospels, Peter (then Simon) was a fisherman along with his brother, Andrew, and the sons of Zebedee, James and John. The Gospel of John also depicts Peter fishing, even after the resurrection of Jesus, in the story of the Catch of 153 fish. In Matthew and Mark, Jesus called Simon and his brother Andrew to be "fishers of men" (Matthew 4:18–19, Mark 1:16–17).
A Franciscan church is built upon the traditional site of Apostle Peter's house.[25] In Luke, Simon Peter owns the boat that Jesus uses to preach to the multitudes who were pressing on him at the shore of Lake Gennesaret (Luke 5:3). Jesus then amazes Simon and his companions James and John (Andrew is not mentioned) by telling them to lower their nets, whereupon they catch a huge number of fish. Immediately after this, they follow him (Luke 5:4–11). The Gospel of John gives a comparable account of "The First Disciples" (John 1:35–42). In John, the readers are told that it was two disciples of John the Baptist (Andrew and an unnamed disciple) who heard John the Baptist announce Jesus as the "Lamb of God" and then followed Jesus. Andrew then went to his brother Simon, saying, "We have found the Messiah", and then brought Simon to Jesus.



Peter was a Jewish fisherman in Bethsaida (John 1:44). He was named Simon, son of Jonah or John.[23] The three Synoptic Gospels recount how Peter's mother-in-law was healed by Jesus at their home in Capernaum (Matthew 8:14–17, Mark 1:29–31, Luke 4:38); this passage clearly depicts Peter as being married. 1 Corinthians 9:5 has also been taken to imply that he was married.[24]
When Peter met Jesus, he immediately left his nets to follow Him and become a “fisher of men.” He was the first of the apostles to testify to Jesus as the Christ.
Peter persevered in following Christ despite some personal weaknesses, such as doubt, fear, and impulsiveness. Most famously he denied Jesus three times during the Passion, yet after the Resurrection he affirmed his love for Christ and the mandate to shepherd the Church as the first pope. His first letter encourages Christians to “set your hope fully upon the grace that is coming to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13). Peter doggedly preached in the midst of persecution up to his own crucifixion for the faith