"And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven." Matthew 16:16-17 ASV
<p>Illustration of Peter kneeling before Jesus. Jesus is telling Peter that he will build his church upon Peter and Peter will have the keys to heaven. Jesus is handing Peter a key with a cross on it. Six other disciples are standing to the side, watching. The dome of St. Peter's Basilica glows in the distant background. This scene is commonly referred to as the Confession of Peter.

Peter Publicly Professes that Jesus is Christ, the Son of God

"And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered…

"And a certain maid seeing him as he sat in the light of the fire, and looking stedfastly upon him, said, This man also was with him. But he denied, saying, Woman, I know him not. And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou also art one of them. But Peter said, Man, I am not. And after the space of about one hour another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this man also was with him; for he is a Galilaean. But Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew." Luke 22:56-60 ASV
<p>Illustration of Peter denying his knowledge of Christ to a woman and a soldier. Peter sits in a courtyard. Jesus walks by (left), with his hands bound by rope, being followed by soldiers. A rooster sits on a windowsill above Peter's head. A column and low wall separate Jesus and Peter.

The Denial of Peter - Jesus Looks at Peter in the Courtyard

"And a certain maid seeing him as he sat in the light of the fire, and looking stedfastly upon him,…