MARY, OUR MOTHER

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #275

And the names of the twelve Apostles are these: The first, Simon who is called Peter . . . (Matt. 10:2)

THE PRIMACY OF PETER: A list of the apostles is given four times, vis. in the Gospels of St. Matthew, St. Mark and St. Luke, and in the Acts of the Apostles. In each, St. Peter's name is put first; and St. Matthew expressly calls him "the first". In what way was St, Peter the first of the apostles? He was the third, not the first, to be called, but all the same he was the first in rank, being ordained by our Lord Jesus Christ to be the chief of the apostles. We have already come across several passages in the New Testament which point to his primacy. When our Lord first called him, He gave him the name of Peter. His mother-in-law was the first of many sick whom Jesus healed. It was Peter's boat from which He chose to preach; and it was to Peter especially that the miraculous draught of fishes was given, as also the promise that henceforth he should be a fisher of men.

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)