Peter's Story
A painting of Peter telling Jesus he is the Christ

Peter's Story · Event 9 of 38

“You Are the Christ”

Following Jesus · Caesarea Philippi

3 accounts of this passage

Matthew 16:13–20

13When Jesus arrived in the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" 14They answered, "Some say John the Baptist. Others say Elijah. Still others say Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" 16Simon Peter spoke up: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17Jesus replied, "You are blessed, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven did." 18And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overpower it. 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." 20Then he strictly ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.

Read Matthew 16
Up next“Get Behind Me, Satan”Matthew 16:21–23

About this event

What happened?

In the region of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked his disciples who people said he was. Then he asked, “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said this had been shown to him by the Father in heaven. “You are Peter,” Jesus said, “and on this rock I will build my church.” He said he would give Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven.

Who is here?

Where did this happen?

Caesarea Philippi

The area around the city of Caesarea Philippi, north of the Sea of Galilee.

Where this fits

Event 4 of 8 in Following Jesus: Peter walks on the water, says Jesus is the Christ, and sees him transfigured.

Good to know

Christians differ on what “this rock” means: Peter himself, Peter's statement of faith, or Christ. Only Matthew records the words about the rock and the keys. In Mark, Peter says “You are the Christ”; in Luke, “The Christ of God.”

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