Peter

18Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, which is a big lake. He saw two brothers, Simon (also called Peter) and Andrew. They were throwing a net into the water. Catching fish was their job.

And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

NoteSimon and Peter are two names for the same man. Fishermen threw a round net with weights on the edge. It sank fast and trapped the fish under it.

19Jesus said to them, "Come and follow me. I will make you catch people instead of fish."

And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Note"Fishers of men" plays with their job. Jesus means they will now gather people to God.

20Right away they left their nets and went with him.

And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

21Jesus walked on and saw two more brothers, James and John. Their father was Zebedee. They were in a boat with him, fixing their nets. Jesus called them to come.

And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.

NoteNets tore all the time and had to be sewn up again. Fishing was this family's work, with their own boat.

22Right away they left the boat and their father, and they went with him.

And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

NoteLeaving their father meant leaving the family work too. Sons usually fished with their father all their lives.

14Jesus went into Peter's house. He saw Peter's wife's mother lying in bed with a fever.

And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother laid, and sick of a fever.

NotePeter was one of Jesus' closest friends and followers.

15He touched her hand, and the fever went away. She got up and began to take care of them.

And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.

NoteTaking care of them means she got up and served them food.

16That evening people brought him many who had demons inside them. Demons are evil spirits. Jesus sent the spirits out with one word. He healed everyone who was sick.

When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:

NoteOlder Bibles use the word devils here. It means the same thing as demons, evil spirits.

17This happened so the words of the prophet Isaiah would come true. A prophet is someone who told people what God said. Isaiah said, "He took our weakness and carried our sicknesses away."

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

NoteIsaiah lived hundreds of years before Jesus was born. What he said was written down in a book.

22Right away Jesus made his followers get into the boat. They were to go ahead of him to the other side. He stayed to send the crowd home.

And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

23After the people left, he went up a mountain by himself to pray. Evening came, and he was still there alone.

And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

NoteHills rise up all around this lake. Climbing one was a good way to be alone and quiet.

24By now the boat was far out on the water. Waves tossed it around, because the wind was blowing against it.

But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

NoteThis lake sits low with hills all around it. Strong winds rush down and make big waves fast. Fishermen knew this could be dangerous.

25Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus came to them. He was walking on the water.

And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

NotePeople split the night into four parts called watches. The fourth watch was about three to six in the morning.

26When his followers saw him walking on the water, they were frightened. They said, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear.

And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

NotePeople then believed spirits could appear in the dark. Seeing one would be very frightening.

27Jesus spoke to them right away. He said, "Be brave. It is me. Do not be afraid."

But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

28Peter answered, "Lord, if it is really you, tell me to come to you on the water."

And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

NotePeter was one of Jesus's closest friends. He was a fisherman before he followed Jesus. He often spoke up first.

29Jesus said, "Come." So Peter climbed out of the boat. He walked on the water toward Jesus.

And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

30Then he saw how strong the wind was, and he was afraid. He started to sink and cried out, "Lord, save me!"

But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

31At once Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. He said, "You have so little faith. Why did you doubt?"

And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

NoteFaith means trusting someone. Jesus was saying that Peter had stopped trusting him.

32They climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped blowing.

And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.

33The men in the boat worshiped Jesus. They said, "You really are the Son of God."

Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

NoteTo worship means to bow down and show great honor. People did this only for God.

15Then Peter said to him, "Please explain that word picture to us."

Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable.

NotePeter asks about a parable, a small story with a bigger meaning. Jesus told many of them.

16Jesus said, "Do you still not understand it either?

And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?

17Don't you see? Food goes in your mouth and down to your stomach. Then it leaves your body.

Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?

18But words come out of your mouth from your heart. Those are the things that make you dirty inside.

But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

19Bad thoughts come out of the heart. So do killing, cheating on a husband or wife, wrong sex, stealing, lying about others, and hurtful talk.

For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

NoteLying about others means telling lies to get someone in trouble. In those days it often happened in front of a judge.

20Those are the things that make a person dirty inside. Eating with unwashed hands does not."

These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

13Jesus came to the land around the town of Caesarea Philippi. He asked his followers, "Who do people say that I am? I call myself the Son of Man."

When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

NoteCaesarea Philippi was a town far to the north, away from home. "Son of Man" was Jesus' favorite name for himself. It came from an old promise in the Bible about a king God would send.

14They said, "Some say you are John the Baptist. Some say you are Elijah. Others say you are Jeremiah or one of the prophets."

And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

NoteJohn the Baptist told people to get ready for Jesus. He had been killed a short time before this. Elijah and Jeremiah were prophets who lived hundreds of years earlier. So the people were saying Jesus seemed like a great man from long ago come back. Prophets were people who told others what God said.

15Then he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?"

He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

16Simon Peter answered him. He said, "You are the Christ, God's chosen one. You are the Son of the living God."

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Note"Christ" is not a last name. It is a title, like "king" or "captain." It means the special helper God promised to send.

17Jesus said to him, "God has blessed you, Simon son of Jonah. No person told you this. My Father in heaven showed it to you."

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Note"Barjona" means "son of Jonah" in the language Jesus spoke. Simon's father was named Jonah. This is a different Jonah from the prophet.

18"And I tell you this. You are Peter, and your name means rock. On this rock I will build my church, my own people. The gates of the place of the dead will not win against it."

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

NoteIn Jesus' language, the name Peter sounded just like the word for rock. It was a kind of word play. "Church" here does not mean a building. It means the group of people who belong to Jesus. City gates were huge doors that kept enemies out. Saying gates cannot win means death cannot break in.

19"I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. What you tie up on earth will be tied up in heaven. What you set free on earth will be set free in heaven."

And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

NoteIn big houses one trusted servant carried the keys. He decided who came in and what doors opened. Teachers back then said "bind" for what is not allowed and "loose" for what is allowed. So Jesus is giving Peter a job of trust.

20Then Jesus told his followers something firmly. They must not tell anyone that he was the Christ.

Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

21From that time Jesus began to tell his followers what would happen. He had to go to Jerusalem. The older leaders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the law would hurt him. He would be killed. On the third day he would be raised to life again.

From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

NoteJerusalem was the biggest city, where the temple stood. The elders, chief priests, and scribes were the leaders there. Scribes were teachers who studied God's law and copied it by hand.

22Then Peter took Jesus aside. He began to tell Jesus he was wrong. He said, "Never, Lord! This will not happen to you!"

Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

23But Jesus turned around. He said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are standing in my way. You are thinking the way people think, not the way God thinks."

But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

NoteSatan is a name for God's enemy. The King James says Peter is "an offence" to Jesus. That word meant a stone in the path that trips someone up.

1Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John with him. John was James's brother. Jesus led them up a high mountain, away from other people.

And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

NotePeter, James, and John were three of Jesus's closest friends. They traveled with him and learned from him every day.

2There Jesus changed right in front of them. His face shone like the sun. His clothes turned as white as light.

And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

NoteThe King James says Jesus was "transfigured." That means his whole look changed. It also says "raiment," which is an old word for clothes.

3All at once, Moses and Elijah were there. They were talking with Jesus.

And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

NoteMoses and Elijah lived long, long before Jesus. Moses led God's people out of Egypt. Elijah was a prophet, someone who told people what God said. The King James spells his name "Elias."

4Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you want, I will build three shelters. One for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

NoteShelters were little huts made of branches and leaves. People built them to stay in when they slept outside. The King James calls them "tabernacles."

5While Peter was still talking, a bright cloud covered them. A voice came out of the cloud. It said, "This is my Son, and I love him. He makes me very glad. Listen to him!"

While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

NoteFor the people back then, a bright cloud meant God was very near. In their old stories, God spoke from a cloud like this one.

6When his followers, called disciples, heard the voice, they fell with their faces to the ground. They were very afraid.

And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

NoteLying face down on the ground was a way to show great respect. People did it in front of a king.

7Jesus came over and touched them. He said, "Get up. Do not be afraid."

And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.

8They looked up. They saw no one there but Jesus.

And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

24Then they came to the town of Capernaum. The men who collected the temple tax came to Peter. They asked, "Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax?"

And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?

NoteCapernaum was a fishing town beside that lake. Jesus stayed there often. The temple was God's special house in the city of Jerusalem. Every grown man paid a small amount of money each year to help keep it nice.

25Peter said, "Yes, he does." Then Peter went into the house. Jesus spoke first and said, "What do you think, Simon? Kings collect taxes from people. Do they take the money from their own sons, or from other people?"

He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?

NoteThe King James says Jesus "prevented" him. Back then "prevented" meant to speak first, not to stop someone.

26Peter said, "From other people." Jesus said, "Then the sons do not have to pay."

Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.

27"But we do not want to upset them. Go to the lake and throw in a hook. Take the first fish you catch. Open its mouth, and you will find a coin. Give that coin to them for my tax and yours."

Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

NoteThe King James calls it "a piece of money." That one coin was worth exactly two temple taxes, one for Jesus and one for Peter.

21Then Peter came to Jesus with a question. He asked, "Lord, how many times should I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Seven times?"

Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

NoteSeven was a special number meaning full or complete. Peter thought seven times was already very generous.

22Jesus said to him, "Not seven times. I tell you, forgive seventy times seven times."

Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

NoteSeventy times seven is a very big number. Jesus did not mean stop at four hundred ninety. He meant stop counting altogether.

23"So God's kingdom is like a king. He decided to settle up with his servants about the money they owed him."

Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

NoteThese servants were not house helpers. They were the king's workers who looked after his money. A king would call them in to check the books.

24"As he began, a servant was brought to him. That man owed the king ten thousand talents, a huge pile of money."

And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

NoteA talent was a huge weight of silver. One talent took a working man about twenty years to earn. Ten thousand was the biggest number people used back then. So this debt was more money than anyone could ever pay.

25"The man could not pay. So his master ordered that the man be sold to pay the debt. His wife, his children, and everything he owned would be sold too."

But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

NoteIf you could not pay what you owed, you could be sold as a slave. Your wife and children could be sold too. The money from the sale went to the person you owed.

26"The servant fell on his knees in front of the king. He begged, "Please be patient with me. I will pay you everything."

The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

NoteThe King James says the servant "worshipped him." Back then that word could mean bowing low to a person to show honor. Here it means he knelt down in front of the king.

27"The master felt sorry for him. He let the servant go and forgave the whole debt."

Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

28"But that servant went out and found another servant. This man owed him only a hundred pence, a small amount. He grabbed him by the throat and said, "Pay me what you owe!"

But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.

NoteA penny here means a coin called a denarius. One coin was a whole day's pay. So a hundred pence was about four months of work. That is real money, but tiny next to what the first man owed.

29"The other servant fell down and begged him. He said, "Please be patient with me. I will pay you back."

And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

30"But he would not wait. He had the man locked up in prison until he paid the debt."

And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

NotePeople who owed money could be locked in prison. They stayed there until family or friends paid for them.

31"The other servants saw what happened and felt very sad. They went and told their master everything."

So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

32"Then the master called the servant back in. He said, "You wicked servant! I forgave your whole debt because you begged me."

Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:

33""You should have been kind to the other servant, just as I was kind to you.""

Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

34"The master was angry. He handed the servant over to the jailers, to be hurt and held until he paid all he owed."

And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

NoteThe King James word is "tormentors." These were jailers who hurt prisoners on purpose. The idea was to make the family hurry and pay.

35Jesus said, "My Father in heaven will do the same to you. This happens if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."

So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.