Keys of the kingdom

Christians believe it was established in the 1st century AD, initially through Saint Peter then through the rest of the 12 Apostles.

[2][3] The authority can be traced to one passage in the New Testament, where Jesus mentions them first in response to St. Peter answering a question and secondly in speaking to a group of disciples.

Not all adherents to the faith in the risen Jesus Christ follow the further doctrinal concepts of sole authority held in any particular church, organization, or individual today.

[2][3] One view is that the keys were used for a specific purpose and at a set time; namely at the Day of Pentecost—the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.

On the day of Pentecost, Peter, in the presence of the other 11 disciples, speaks a message to the Jews from all over the known world, metaphorically using the keys to open the kingdom, inviting hearers in, building the church.

The relief of St. Peter at the portal of St Peter's church at Radovljica in Slovenia . The inscription, written in Slovene , reads: "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven".
St. Peter the Apostle with the keys , mosaic in the medieval Byzantine Greek Orthodox of the Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora , Istanbul, Turkey
Keys of the Kingdom on the flag of Vatican City