Saturday, January 2, 2021

Peter Always Mentioned First in Lists of Apostles?

Roman Catholic apologist wrote the following:

 

Every list of the twelve apostles in the New Testament has Peter prominently placed at the top of the list, and Judas is listed last (Mt 10:2; Lk 6:13-16; Acts 1:13). (Steve Ray, Upon This Rock: St. Peter and the Primacy of Rome in Scripture and the Early Church [Modern Apologetics Library; San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1999], 23)

 

This is false. While Peter is mentioned first in a number of texts listing the apostles, this is not always the case. Consider the following:

 

Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. (John 1:44)

 

And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. (Gal 2:9)