It is from these words of Jesus, promising to give to Peter the keys of the Kingdom of God, that the fanciful picture of Peter standing at heaven’s gate, allowing or denying entrance into paradise, is derived. There have been numerous songs and poems written about, or at least including the notion that Peter is standing at some imagined doorway to glory, holding a huge Key with which he may open the door – if the newly arrived petitioner is deemed worthy of eternal bliss. Of course, such thinking is groundless, and perhaps even innocuous, but it does indicate that where understanding is lacking, imagination will fill the void. Let us allow the Scriptures to explain themselves now, so that understanding can replace imagination in this area of doctrine.

Jesus gave Peter the keys of the Kingdom of God. What is the Kingdom of God, Paul? “The Kingdom of God is....righteousness, peace, and joy in the holy Ghost” (Rom. 14:17). So, Jesus gave to Peter the keys which fit the door to righteousness, peace, and joy in the holy Ghost. But did not Paul lead people to receive the holy Ghost (e.g. Acts 19:1-6)? And the other apostles, did they not cause sinners to repent and turn to the Lord? Yes, all this happened. But no man but Peter was given the privilege of opening the door to the Kingdom of God to the three kinds of peoples which are on earth. Let me explain.

After his resurrection, Jesus visited with his disciples forty days “speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). The disciples, filled more at this time with zeal than with knowledge, still believed that Jesus’ plan was to overthrow the Romans and restore Israel’s past military and social glory. When they very excitedly asked, “Lord wilt thou at this time restore the Kingdom to Israel?”, Jesus responded, “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father has put in His own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:7-8). These were the last words Jesus spoke on earth. Immediately after saying these words, he was taken up into heaven. But please note the three all-encompassing groups to which the apostles would be sent:

(1) The Jews — Jerusalem and all Judea
(2) The half-Jews — Samaria
(3) The non-Jews — uttermost part of the earth.

Next in line to receive the holy Ghost, or, to say it another way, next to enter into the Kingdom of God, were the Samaritans, who were a kind of bridge between Jews and Gentiles, a half-way point, if you will. The first reported preaching to the Samaritans was done by Philip. He performed mighty miracles, cast out unclean spirits, told them of Jesus, baptized them in water, “and there was great joy in that city” (Acts 8:5-8). But they could not receive the holy Ghost because the man with the keys was in Jerusalem! The door had not been opened for the Samaritans, even though they had believed the word of God that Philip had spoken. To remedy this, the assembly of apostles at Jerusalem “sent unto them Peter and John, who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the holy Ghost (for as yet it was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the holy Ghost” (Acts 8:14-16). Now, after Peter had done this, evangelists like Philip would find that other Samaritans could receive the holy Ghost without Peter being there. All Peter had to do was open the door. He didn’t have to stand there to watch everyone go in.

Peter had used his key twice. First, for the Jews to receive the holy Ghost, then for the Samaritans. Peter’s last use of his keys was to follow not many months later. The door which Peter would open would allow even uncircumcised people into the beautiful fields of the Kingdom of God.

“There was a certain [Gentile] man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the [Jewish] people, and prayed to God always.” As this man Cornelius prayed, an angel appeared to him, speaking a few words of encouragement and giving him a commandment from God. “And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side. He shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.” Later in this tenth chapter of Acts, when Peter arrived, he began to declare the message of Jesus to this Gentile and to his family and friends who had heard of the angel’s visit and had come to hear what Peter had to say. Unlike Philip with the Samaritans, Peter did not have to send to Jerusalem for help to get them into the Kingdom. He had the keys. And “while Peter yet spake these words, the holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision [Jews and/or Samaritans] which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.”

After this door to the Kingdom was opened to the Gentiles, Peter’s work with the keys was completed. The Kingdom of God - righteousness, peace, and joy in the holy Ghost - was open to all men. And since that time many, even from the uttermost part of the earth, have been welcomed into this endless and glorious Kingdom of mercy, truth, and light.