MAT 16:13-20

Peterʼs Confession of Christ

13Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" [16:14] And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." [16:15] He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" [16:16] Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." [16:17] And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in the heavens. [16:18] And I say to you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. [16:19] I will give you the keys of the kingdom of the heavens, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in the heavens, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in the heavens." [16:20] Then he strictly instructed the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

In the world it was spoken into

In the region of Caesarea Philippi, a city known for its Greco-Roman religious syncretism and the worship of Pan, Jesus poses a question to His disciples about His identity. The area was a cultural crossroads, blending Jewish and pagan influences, making the question of Jesus’ identity particularly charged. When Jesus asks, 'Whom do men say that I am?' the disciples respond with figures like John the Baptist, Elijah, and Jeremiah—prophets associated with restoration and divine intervention in Jewish expectation. Peter’s declaration, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,' identifies Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah, a title laden with political and theological significance in Second-Temple Judaism. The term 'Christ' evoked the anointed king of Israel, a figure expected to deliver God’s people. Jesus’ response, blessing Peter and calling him 'rock' , introduces the concept of the , a term familiar in Greco-Roman contexts as an assembly but here redefined as a community founded on divine revelation. This moment underscores Jesus’ authority and the emerging identity of His followers.

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How other translations render this

MAT 16:13

KJV: When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
BSB: When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He questioned His disciples: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
Koinōnos: Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?

MAT 16:14

KJV: And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
BSB: They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
Koinōnos: And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.

MAT 16:15

KJV: He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
BSB: “But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Koinōnos: He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?

MAT 16:16

KJV: And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
BSB: Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Koinōnos: Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.

MAT 16:17

KJV: 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.
BSB: Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven.
Koinōnos: And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in the heavens.

MAT 16:18

KJV: 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.
BSB: And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.
Koinōnos: And I say to you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.

MAT 16:19

KJV: 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.
BSB: I 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.”
Koinōnos: I will give you the keys of the kingdom of the heavens, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in the heavens, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in the heavens.

MAT 16:20

KJV: Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
BSB: Then He admonished the disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Christ.
Koinōnos: Then he strictly instructed the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Where the historical framing draws from

Josephus, AntiquitiesAntiquities 18.3.3

›Josephus, Antiquities Antiquities 18.3.3

“He was [the] Christ. And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him”

Cited to ground: Peter’s declaration, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,' identifies Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah, a title laden with political and theological significance in Second-Temple Judaism. The term 'Christ' evoked the anointed king of Israel, a figure expected to deliver God’s people.

Translator's notes

MAT 16:13

<the>:The word translated 'man' here is a generic term for a human being, encompassing both male and female, rather than specifically referring to a male person.

MAT 16:16

Christ:The term 'Christ' literally means 'anointed one' and was used in ancient times to refer to someone set apart for a special role, often a king or priest, through an anointing ritual.

MAT 16:18

Peter:The name 'Peter' is a masculine form of the word for 'rock' or 'stone,' directly connecting to the imagery used in the following verse.
church,:The word translated 'church' originally referred to an assembly of citizens called out from their homes for a specific purpose, like a political gathering, not necessarily a religious congregation.