Caesarea Philippi was the site of Christ Jesus’ momentous question about his identity. By that time, his disciples had heard his Sermon on the Mount and witnessed many of his healings—including feeding two huge crowds with tiny amounts of food, stilling a storm at one command, and walking on water. But did they truly recognize his unique status as the promised Messiah?  

Before asking them, the Master leads them on an all-day walk to this significant Roman city. Caesarea Philippi was named for Roman emperor Augustus, and Philippi (a reference to Herodian king Philip) was added to distinguish it from other cities named in Caesar’s honor. As a center of polytheistic worship, it represented total ignorance of the one God. Against this backdrop, Jesus calls for public affirmation of his Sonship with God.

A huge cave near the city was considered by pagans the gateway to hell—and some scholars assume the Master chose this site for his question, “Whom say ye that I am?” When Peter professes him to be “the Christ, the Son of the living God,” Jesus declares, “Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:15, 16, 18).