And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. He does not say, 'Scribes and Pharisees, rulers and people, are all perplexed; and shall we, unlettered fishermen, presume to decide?' But feeling the light of his Master's glory shining in his soul, he breaks forth-not in a tame, prosaic acknowledgment, 'I believe that thou art,' etc.-but in the language of adoration-such as one uses in worship, "THOU ART THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD! "He first owns Him the promised Messiah (see the note at Matthew 1:16); then he rises higher, echoing the voice from heaven - "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased;" and in the important addition - "Son of the LIVING GOD," - he recognizes the essential and eternal life of God as in this His Son-though doubtless without that distinct perception afterward vouchsafed.