# Where is “On this rock I will build my church” in the Bible?

> “On this rock I will build my church” is Matthew 16:18.

Source: https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/on-this-rock-i-will-build-my-church
By Andrew Kittridge · November 10, 2026

Jesus says it to Simon Peter at Caesarea Philippi.

## The verse

> And I also tell you this: you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prove stronger than it.
>
> — [Matthew 16:18](https://www.lumin.faith/read/matthew/16#18) (Lumin Translation)

These exact words are in the Lumin Translation, a modern English Bible.

## What it means there

Peter has just said that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Peter’s name means rock. Christians disagree on what the rock is: Catholics take it to be Peter himself, and many Protestants take it to be the faith he confessed.

## Common questions

### Where is “On this rock I will build my church” in the Bible?

“On this rock I will build my church” is Matthew 16:18. These exact words are in the Lumin Translation, a modern English Bible. Jesus says it to Simon Peter at Caesarea Philippi.

### Is “On this rock I will build my church” in the Bible?

Yes. It is Matthew 16:18. In the Lumin Translation, Matthew 16:18 reads: “And I also tell you this: you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prove stronger than it.”

### Who said “On this rock I will build my church”?

Jesus says it to Simon Peter at Caesarea Philippi.

### What does “On this rock I will build my church” mean in the Bible?

Peter has just said that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Peter’s name means rock. Christians disagree on what the rock is: Catholics take it to be Peter himself, and many Protestants take it to be the faith he confessed.

## More

- [Where is “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/the-harvest-is-plentiful-but-the-workers-are-few.md)
- [Where is “Repent and be baptized” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/repent-and-be-baptized.md)
- [Where is “More than conquerors” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/more-than-conquerors.md)
- [Where is “Overcome evil with good” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/overcome-evil-with-good.md)
- [Where is “The greatest of these is love” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/the-greatest-of-these-is-love.md)
- [Where is “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/if-anyone-is-in-christ-he-is-a-new-creation.md)
- [Where is “Do not grow weary in doing good” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/do-not-grow-weary-in-doing-good.md)
- [Where is “Put on the full armor of God” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/put-on-the-full-armor-of-god.md)
- [Check any word or a whole song](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-verse-checker)