When Peter met Jesus, he immediately left his nets to follow Him and become a “fisher of men.” He was the first of the apostles to testify to Jesus as the Christ.
Peter persevered in following Christ despite some personal weaknesses, such as doubt, fear, and impulsiveness. Most famously he denied Jesus three times during the Passion, yet after the Resurrection he affirmed his love for Christ and the mandate to shepherd the Church as the first pope. His first letter encourages Christians to “set your hope fully upon the grace that is coming to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13). Peter doggedly preached in the midst of persecution up to his own crucifixion for the faith.