Peter saw the error into which he had fallen, and immediately set about repairing it as far as possible. God, who knoweth the end from the beginning, permitted Peter to exhibit this weakness of character, in order that he might see that there was nothing in himself whereof he might boast. God also saw that in time to come some would be so deluded as to claim for Peter and his pretended successors, exalted prerogatives which belong only to God; and this history of the apostle’s weakness was to remain as a proof of his human fallibility, and of the fact that he stood in no way above the level of the other apostles.{LP 72.1}

Peter så den vildfarelse som han var faldet i, og gik straks i gang med at genoprette den så vidt muligt. Gud som kender enden fra begyndelsen, lod Peter vise denne karaktersvaghed, så han kunne se at der var intet i ham selv som han kan prale af. Gud så også at der, i Den-kommende-tid ville komme nogle så bedragede, at de gjorde krav på Peter, og være hans foregivne efterfølgere, med en ophøjet forrang som kun tilkom Gud; og denne beretning om apostlenes svaghed skulle være et bevis på hans menneskelige fejlbarlighed, og at han på ingen måde var på niveau over de andre apostle.