Peter's Confession at Caesarea Philippi

Illustration of Peter's Confession at Caesarea Philippi
Era
Life of Christ
Date
c. AD 29 โ‰ˆ Approximate
Reference
Matthew 16:13-20

Near Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked his disciples who people said he was, then pressed them personally: 'But whom say ye that I am?' Peter answered for the group with the pivotal confession, 'Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God,' which Jesus declared had been revealed to him not by human insight but by the Father himself. On this confession of Jesus' true identity, Jesus announced he would build his church, giving it authority that even the gates of hell could not overcome - one of the turning points of the Gospels, after which Jesus began openly teaching his disciples about his coming death and resurrection in Jerusalem.

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Key Passage

Peter's Confession at Caesarea Philippi

Matthew 16:13-20

W13hen Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

Read full chapter: Matthew 16 โ†’

Meanwhile in the World

The Roman Empire is at its peak under Augustus and Tiberius (Pax Romana). Rome controls the entire Mediterranean world. Roads, common language (Greek), and peace make travel and communication easy - the 'fullness of time.' Herod the Great rules Judea as a client king.

When: c. 5 BC - AD 33

Key Civilizations: Roman Empire (Pax Romana)

Biblical Parallels: Matthew 1-28 , Mark 1-16 , Luke 1-24 , John 1-21

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Characters

Jesus Jesus is portrayed in the Bible as the Son of God and the long-awaited Messiah whose coming fulfilled Oldโ€ฆ Peter Peter, originally a fisherman named Simon, was called by Jesus along the Sea of Galilee to become one ofโ€ฆ

Places

Caesarea Philippi Caesarea Philippi was an ancient city in northern Israel near the headwaters of the Jordan River, builtโ€ฆ