Matthew 16:13-20
See Menu Topic First: Jesus vs Caesar
At the latter end of this scripture, whilst standing beside the rock cliff dedicated to Caesar, Jesus says to Peter, “And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. And I will give unto the the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shall loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven." Then he charged he his disciples, that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
These are the most important passages we find about Jesus and the church that is to be established after his death. He gives Peter the mission, to conserve this truth, that Jesus is the word made flesh and that our salvation depends on this. We believe he Jesus it the savior whom he shares his life with us and given his life over to us through revelation, the scriptures and the sacraments. Jesus pours forth life on us, and continues to be revealed to us. His divinity underpins everything he says and does. Peter is given the power and the keys to govern the house of God and the teachings of the church. Peter has full supreme and universal power to bind and loose, to absolve sins, to make disciplinary decisions, and Peter alone. This office is then passed on to his successors to exercise and the apostles share this authority as so long as they are in union with Peter.
Acts Chapters 4-6
When Peter and John were preaching about death and resurrection before the 5000 people of Jerusalem, the Sanhedrin came, (high priests) and being grieved on what they were saying to the people, came before them and laid hands on them and held them unto the next day. They asked them both, “By what power, or by what name have ye done this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost said unto them, “Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, if we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be in known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” And when the high priests could not deny the miracle that had been performed in front of all Jerusalem, they threatened Peter and John to not speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, “Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things for which we have seen and heard.” So when they had further threatened Peter and John, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.
Throughout his life and under his authority, Peter gives approval for the Samaritans conversion (displaced Israelites) and to declare foods clean or unclean.