Martyrdom of St. Peter

Click here to see Painting



Jesus prophesied about Peter’s death when he said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, "Follow me." (John 21:18) Tradition says that St. Peter requested to be crucified up side down because he did not feel worthy to be crucified in the same way Jesus was. What I like about this painting is that the Christians look to be still moving towards their mission that Christ gave them while Peter is being crucified.

Some make the claim that Peter did not have a successor. This is odd when one of the first things that Peter did in Acts was to find a successor for Judas. (Acts 1:15-26) If Judas’ office needed a successor how much more would Peter’s Bishoprick need a successor? Peter also makes a promise in his second epistle when he wrote, “I shall also make every effort to enable you always to remember these things after my departure.” (2 Peter 1:15) From the historical record of the successors of Peter it is reasonable that one of the efforts that Peter planed for was a successor for himself.