I could feel the apostle’s eyes on me as I listened to the old man, and I had all I could do to keep my composure. I had some very harsh questions to ask this man whom Jesus had aptly named “the rock,” and I was beginning to wonder where I’d find the courage. If he had once dared to contradict Jesus, to whom he had devoted his life, how would he react with me if I began probing into areas where memories must still cause pain, anguish, and regret?

There was so much Peter could tell me. How many thousands of books had been written about him, how many questions raised, how many conclusions reached, how many mysteries were still hanging over his years with Jesus? Last night, before falling to sleep, I knew exactly how I would conduct my interview with him. After all, my purpose here was not to write the definitive life of Jesus but specifically to discover what had happened to his body after he was buried. I had reviewed, in my mind, those questions that I had the three tribunes asking Peter in my book, and I had decided to follow the same course I had plotted for them in my unfinished manuscript. But that was last night. Now, eyeball to eyeball with the man, I realized how much that game plan might have to be flexible, to say the least.

Peter was waiting patiently, both elbows resting on the glistening tabletop, his huge hands clasped loosely together beneath his beard. He seemed completely relaxed, unconcerned about anything I might ask him. I decided to blast through that equanimity early. If I could knock him off balance, he might say things I would never hear under normal conditions.

“And how is your mother-in-law?”

“What?” he bellowed. Then, in a softer but still disbelieving voice, “What did you say?”

“I asked how your mother-in-law was. Her health? She is feeling well?”

My question had its intended effect. Obviously disarmed, Peter replied, “She is in good health, sir,” Now he was smiling. Warily. “But what has an old woman’s condition in Capernaum to do with your search for the truth about Jesus?”

“Did he not save her life once?”

Equanimity out, astonishment in. “Your search for the truth has been exceedingly thorough, my friend,” he replied. “Yes, the Lord saved her life when she was near death.”

“How?”