The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

126 THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS.you wandered into the fold of strangers who spurnPeter s voice? Ponder well on this momentousquestion. For, if Peter is authorized to feed thelambs of Christ s flock, the lambs should hearPeter s voice.Exercise of the Primacy. In the Acts of theApostles, which contain almost the only Scripturenarrative that exists of the Apostles subsequent toour Lord s ascension, St. Peter appears before us,like Saul among the tribes, standing head andshoulders over his brethren by the prominent parthe takes in every ministerial duty.The first twelve chapters of the Acts are devotedto Peter, and to some of the other Apostles the re;maining chapters being chiefly occupied with thelabors of the Apostle of the Gentiles. In that briefhistorical fragment, as well as in the Gospels, thename of Peter iseverywhere pre-eminent.Peter s name always stands first in the lists of theApostles; while Judas Iscariot is invariably mentioned last. 1 Peter is even called bySt. Matthewthe first Apostle. Now Peter was first neither in agenor in priority of election, his elder brother Andrewhaving been chosen before him. The meaning, therefore, of the expression must be, that Peter was firstnot only in rank and honor, but also in authority.Peter is the firstApostle who performed a miracle.1He is the first to address the Jews in Jerusalem^while his Apostolic brethren stand respectfullylMatt. x. 2; Mark iii. 16; Luke vi. 14; Acts i. 14.ActsiiL