The Age of Peter at the Time of His Crucifixion

The question of Peter's age at the time of his crucifixion is a matter of intrigue among scholars and enthusiasts interested in the lives of the apostles. Some estimate that Peter was around 67 years old, while others suggest that he might have been older, even in the 70s or 80s. The Bible does not provide explicit information regarding Peter's age, except for noting that he was an established adult prior to following Jesus. This means he was likely in his late 30s or early 40s when he began his ministry.

Given that Jesus is believed to have been in his mid-30s at his crucifixion, Peter would have been in his sixties if they were similar ages. This estimation is based on the timelines of their respective lives, with Peter known to have died around 66-68 AD, approximately 30 years after the crucifixion of Jesus.

A Tragic Assumption

The notion that Peter was crucified upside down by his own request is a fascinating mix of legend and Christian tradition. While there is no conclusive evidence to support this, it makes for a compelling story. The idea that the soldiers agreed to this method, perhaps out of mischief, is not far-fetched. However, medical experts argue that hanging upside down would not necessarily be fatal. It's only after a few days of suspension that the body could become inoperable, leading to death by asphyxiation.

Historians and scholars suggest that Peter might have been executed shortly after the torture period, especially if his crucifixion was not intended to be fatal. It's a conjecture based on anatomical and physical principles, lacking concrete historical proof.

No Evidence of His Crucifixion

The crucifixion of Peter is a topic of considerable debate due to the lack of concrete historical evidence supporting this claim. Early Christian writers like Clement of Rome, Irenaeus of Lyon, and Tertullian alluded to Peter's martyrdom but did not specifically mention his crucifixion.

Clement of Rome, in his Letter to the Corinthians, provided the earliest reference to Peter's martyrdom around AD 90. The Letter to the Romans, written around AD 110, claims that Peter was bishop of Rome. Irenaeus of Lyon, writing around AD 180, agreed that Peter served in Rome, serving as a bishop. Tertullian, in AD 195, declared a similar narrative.

Eusebius, in his Ecclesiastical History, reported the crucifixion of Peter and the beheading of Paul. However, he was merely passing along a tradition that had been the unanimous opinion of the church for two hundred years. This tradition evolved over time, with later traditions suggesting that Peter was crucified upside down in Rome either in 64 or 67 CE.

Historically, the earliest written evidence of Peter's death is found in Clement of Rome's Epistle, where there is no mention of his crucifixion or death in Rome. Clement's writing in 1 Clement 5:4 reads:

[T]here was Peter, who, on account of unrighteous jealousy, suffered not one but many labors, and thus, having borne his testimony, he went his appointed place of glory.

Finding precise information about Peter's death is challenging given the limited historical and textual evidence. The challenges in definitively claiming Peter's age and death method underscore the complexities and uncertainties surrounding early Christian martyrs.