PETER WAS GIVEN THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM

In Matthew 16:16-19, Jesus asked His disciples who they thought He was.  Peter answered by saying, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."  Jesus responded saying, "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father which is in heaven.  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.  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" (Mt. 16 16-19).

So what did Jesus mean by that?  Roman Catholicism says that Jesus was officially ordaining Peter as the first Pope.  Protestants are quick to point out that the word translated "Peter" was the Greek Πέτρος (Petros), which is translated "Peter" 161 times, and "stone" (a small stone for throwing) once.  On the other hand, the word translated "rock" is the Greek πέτρα (petra), which is always translated "rock" (16 times - and it means "a large bolder or the foundation upon which one would build").

Like most passages in the Bible, if one diligently studies other related or similar texts, the meaning of the first is usually revealed.  This is true in this case, as well.  In Acts 1:8, Jesus tells His disciples that "...ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea (Jews), and in Samaria (Samaritans), and unto the uttermost part of the earth (Gentiles)."  And, if we study the spread of the Gospel as it is presented in Acts, we find that Peter was present when the Holy Spirit confirmed that salvation was not only for the Jews, but was for Samaritans and Gentiles:

"But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:  for these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.  But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel:  And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:  and on My servants and on My handmaidens I will pour out in those days of My Spirit; and they shall prophesy" (Acts 2:14-18).

"Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:  who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:  (For as yet He was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)  Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost" (Acts 8:14-17).

"To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.  While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the Word.  And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 10:43-45).

So, it was Peter who was the first to declare that the evidence of the working of the Holy Spirit in the Jews, the Samaritans, and the Gentiles, was proof indeed that they were all accepted by God as equal members of the Body of Christ resulting from their faith in the Gospel message!