Event New Testament
Peter's confession at Caesarea Philippi
Also known as You are the Christ, The first passion prediction
Near Caesarea Philippi Jesus asked His disciples who people said He was, then who they said He was, and Peter answered that He is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus blessed him, then for the first time told the disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, suffer, be killed, and rise on the third day, and rebuked Peter for resisting it.
Why it matters. The confession and the cross are spoken in the same breath: the Messiah is confessed and immediately redefined as one who must suffer.
- Primary passages
- Witnesses
Chronology confidence: medium
All three Synoptics record the confession and the first passion prediction that follows; only Matthew records the words about the rock and the keys, and only Matthew and Mark name Caesarea Philippi.
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-30 by the FaithGraph team
Connections
Jesus walks on the water precedes Peter's confession at Caesarea Philippi
Explicit in ScriptureMedium confidenceMark's order from the lake crossing to Caesarea Philippi.
Peter's confession at Caesarea Philippi precedes The transfiguration
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceAll three Synoptics date the transfiguration about a week after the confession.
Evidence:Jesus participates in Peter's confession at Caesarea Philippi
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceJesus asks the question, blesses Peter's answer, and predicts His suffering.
Evidence:Peter participates in Peter's confession at Caesarea Philippi
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidencePeter answers that Jesus is the Christ and is then rebuked for resisting the cross.
Peter's confession at Caesarea Philippi occurs at Caesarea Philippi
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceMatthew and Mark set the confession in the region and villages of Caesarea Philippi.
Evidence: