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Peter’s Counsel to Parents
Since his reinstatement after his denial of Christ, Peter had un-
flinchingly braved danger and had shown a noble courage in preaching
a crucified, risen, and ascended Saviour. As he lay in his cell he called
to mind the words that Christ had spoken to him: “Verily, verily, I say
unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst
whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch
forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither
thou wouldest not.”
John 21:18
. Thus Jesus had made known to the
disciple the very manner of his death, and even foretold the stretching
of his hands upon the cross.
The death of Peter
Peter, as a Jew and a foreigner, was condemned to be scourged and
crucified. In prospect of this fearful death, the apostle remembered his
great sin in denying Jesus in the hour of His trial. Once so unready to
acknowledge the cross, he now counted it a joy to yield up his life for
the gospel, feeling only that, for him who had denied his Lord, to die
in the same manner as his Master died was too great an honor. Peter
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had sincerely repented of that sin and had been forgiven by Christ,
as is shown by the high commission given him to feed the sheep and
lambs of the flock. But he could never forgive himself. Not even
the thought of the agonies of the last terrible scene could lessen the
bitterness of his sorrow and repentance. As a last favor he entreated
his executioners that he might be nailed to the cross with his head
downward. The request was granted, and in this manner died the great
apostle Peter. (
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter 52
).