16 ¹³ WHEN HE CAME to the territory of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked his disciples, 'Who do men say that the Son of Man is?' Some witnesses read: that I, the Son of Man, am. 16 ¹⁴ They answered, 'Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, others Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.' 16 ¹⁵ 'And you,' he asked, 'who do you say I am?' 16 ¹⁶ Simon Peter answered: 'You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.' 16 ¹⁷ Then Jesus said: 'Simon son of Jonah, you are favoured indeed! You did not learn that from mortal man; it was revealed to you by my heavenly Father. 16 ¹⁸ And I say this to you: You are Peter, the Rock; and on this rock I will build my church, and the forces of death shall never conquer it. Or: the gates of death shall never close upon it. 16 ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of Heaven; what you forbid on earth shall be forbidden in heaven, and what you allow on earth shall be allowed in heaven.' 16 ²⁰ He then gave his disciples strict orders not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.