Was Peter Married?

Was Peter Married?

In some traditions, particularly within Roman Catholic teaching, Peter is often portrayed as celibate—sometimes even as the model of priestly celibacy. But is that what the Bible actually says? The evidence points in a very different direction. Scripture gives us multiple indications that Peter was married, and early history supports it.

Scriptural Evidence: Peter’s Wife and Mother-in-Law

The clearest evidence comes directly from the Gospels:

Matthew 8:14 (NASB):“When Jesus came into Peter’s home, He saw his mother-in-law lying sick in bed with a fever.”

A mother-in-law means one thing: Peter was married. The same account appears in Mark 1:29–31 and Luke 4:38–39, underscoring its authenticity. Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law, and she immediately began to serve them.

Paul’s Confirmation in 1 Corinthians

Later, Paul explicitly confirms that Peter had a wife:

1 Corinthians 9:5 (NASB):“Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?”

Here Paul says it was normal for apostles—including Cephas (another name for Peter)—to travel with their believing wives. Far from being celibate, Peter lived out his ministry as a married man.

Refuting Claims of Celibacy

So why the claim that Peter was not married? Much of this stems from later church traditions that promoted celibacy for clergy. The idea was read back into Scripture, despite clear textual evidence.

• The Gospels record Peter’s mother-in-law.

• Paul explicitly mentions Peter’s wife.

• No verse anywhere suggests Peter abandoned his wife or was unmarried.

The claim simply doesn’t hold up to biblical scrutiny.

Early Church Tradition

Early Christian history also acknowledges Peter’s marriage. The 4th-century historian Eusebius, quoting Clement of Alexandria, noted that Peter’s wife accompanied him in ministry and even in martyrdom. According to the account, she was put to death before Peter, and he encouraged her to remain faithful to Christ until the end.

This paints a picture consistent with Scripture: Peter was married, and his wife shared in his ministry and suffering for Christ.

Why This Matters

Peter’s marriage does more than correct misconceptions—it shows the normality of Christian marriage among the apostles. Unlike modern assumptions, holiness was not tied to enforced celibacy. Instead, the apostles modeled faithfulness whether single or married.

• Marriage was honored as part of God’s design (Hebrews 13:4, NASB).

• Leadership in the church was expected to model healthy family life (1 Timothy 3:2, 5, NASB). Some say it is a leadership requirement based on a plain reading of the text.

• Peter’s example demonstrates that family life and ministry are not opposed but can walk hand-in-hand.

Conclusion

Was Peter married? The Bible answers clearly: yes. The Gospels record his mother-in-law, Paul mentions his wife, and early history remembers her faithful witness. Claims to the contrary are based on later traditions, not on Scripture.

Far from undermining his authority, Peter’s marriage reminds us that Christian leaders can be both deeply devoted to Christ and committed to their families. The first “pope”, according to Catholic tradition, was a married man—and that reality is written plainly in the pages of the New Testament.