Jesus went out with His disciples into the villages of Caesarea and Philippi. Having spent time in prayer with His disciples, He asked,
“Who do men say that I am?”
His disciples answered,
“Some say that you are John the Baptist, others say you are Elijah, others say that you are Jeremiah or one of the other old-time prophets come back to life.”
Jesus asked them,
“But who do you think I am?”
Simon Peter said,
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus said to him,
“Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah! For flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
I tell you that your name is Peter (petros – a small loose stone), and upon this Rock (petra – bedrock or foundation stone) I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. He then told his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ the Messiah.”
