From the first, Peter had believed Jesus to be the Messiah. Many others who had been convicted by the preaching of John the Baptist, and had accepted Christ, began to doubt as to John's mission when he was imprisoned and put to death; and they now doubted that Jesus was the Messiah, for whom they had looked so long. Many of the disciples who had ardently expected Jesus to take His place on David's throne left Him when they perceived that He had no such intention. But Peter and his 412 companions turned not from their allegiance. The vacillating course of those who praised yesterday and condemned today did not destroy the faith of the true follower of the Saviour. Peter declared, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." He waited not for kingly honors to crown his Lord, but accepted Him in His humiliation.

Peter havde lige fra begyndelsen troet, at Jesus var Messias. Mange andre, der havde ladet sig overbevise ved Johannes Døbers prædiken og havde taget imod Kristus, var begyndt at tvivle om Johannes sendelse, da han blev fængslet og henrettet, og nu tvivlede de om, at Jesus var den Messias, som de så længe havde ventet. Mange af de disciple, som havde næret et brændende håb om, at Jesus ville indtage sin plads på Davids trone, forlod ham, da det gik op for dem, at dette ikke var hans hensigt. Men Peter og hans venner svigtede ikke deres troskab. Usikkerheden hos dem, der priste ham den ene dag og fordømte ham den næste, nedbrød ikke troen hos Frelserens trofaste discipel. Peter erklærede: "Du er Kristus, den levende Guds Søn." Han ventede ikke på, at hans Herre skulle blive kronet med kongelige æresbevisninger, men tog imod ham under hans ydmygelse.