Now when Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, Who do people say that the Son of Man is?
And they answered, Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.
Then Jesus said to them: "But who do you say I am?"
Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Jesus said to him: "Blessed are you Simon son of Jonah, because not a man who declared it to you, but my Father which is in heaven.
And I tell you, you are Peter [Greek, Petros--a large piece of rock], and on this rock [Greek, petra--a huge rock like Gibraltar] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades (the powers of the infernal region) shall not overpower it [or be strong to its detriment or hold out against it].
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven.
Then He sternly and strictly charged and warned the disciples to tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.
