Numbered With the Martyrs - The Fate of the Apostles (Part 4)

We continue our look at the martyrdom of the apostles by ending with the apostle Peter; as always I am thankful to the faithful John Foxe for recording these for the benefit of history. I intend to write one more final post after this that will be the conclusion of this series on Christian martyrs (at least for the time being).

"[...] ten persecutions [were] stirred up by Nero about the year of our Lord threescore and four. The tyrannous rage of which emperor was very fierce against the Christians, 'insomuch that (as Eusubius records) a man might then see cities full of men's bodies, the old there lying together with the young, and the dead bodies of women cast out naked, without all reverence of that sex, in the open streets...'

In this persecution, among many other saints, the blessed apostle Peter was condemned to death, and crucified, as some do write, at Rome... Nero sought matter against Peter to put him to death; which, when the people perceived, they entreated Peter with much ado that he would fly the city. Peter, through their importunity at length persuaded, prepared himself to avoid. But, coming to the gate, he saw the Lord Christ come to meet him, to whom he, worshipping said, 'Lord, whither dost thou go?' To whom He answered and said, 'I am come again to be crucified.' By this, Peter, perceiving his suffering to be understood, returned back into the city. Jerome saith that he was crucified, his head being down and his feet upward, himself so requiring, because he was (he said) unworthy to be crucified in the same form and manner as the Lord was."

What beautiful reverence and devotion for our Lord! Not only was he willing to heed the call to martyrdom for the sake of his Lord but he was so humble in spirit that he would not even allow himself to be martyred in the same manner as the Lord. Peter, a man who refused to be called a disciple of Christ when the Jews seized his Lord, a man that denied his Lord three times only to have Christ look him in the eye so that he was cut to the heart and ran off in sorrow and shame; this Peter now ran to the cross and refused to be crucified in a manner that could even be perceived as placing him on equal footing with the Lord. It is truly amazing the work the Spirit performed in this man's heart! In the end, Peter was the picture of a faithful servant and he ended his life as an immensely godly man that will forever stand as an example to us all.

I pray, that if we are to face persecutions that we would all be so faithful when it is our turn at the knife. To our dying breath may we all learn to glorify our holy God so that our piety may stand as a witness to the rest of the world that the Lord has breathed life into our lifelss hearts and is worthy of all glory, honor, and praise. Soli Deo Gloria!