16:16
Peter declares that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. In Jewish thinking the Messiah was chosen by God, set apart for special service, and endowed with power to fulfil that service. Towards the end of the Old Testament period the idea had developed into the Messiah being the one who would rescue Israel and establish God’s righteous kingdom. Note the disciples’ question in Acts 1:6, will you now restore the kingdom to Israel?
16:17
Jesus declares that Peter is blessed by God, but quickly makes it clear that this does not denote any merit in Peter himself (and Peter was soon to demonstrate that that was indeed the case!). For Peter had not come to this knowledge by human effort, but only because the Father had revealed it to him. We are all dependent upon the Lord to reveal the truth to us. This does not mean that we are not to put effort into it, but that we are completely dependent upon the Lord.
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