Did Jesus change Saint Peter’s name?

Jesus did change Saint Peter’s name from Simon to Peter. He is also sometimes called by both, Simon Peter. The changing of a person’s name had great significance. God called Abram and named him Abraham, as well as his wife Sarai, naming her Sarah. Jacob was likewise call Israel. These were all founding events connected to Old Covenant and of great significance in salvation history. The same is true of the re-naming of Simon. Matthew shares his account of the event in Matthew 16:17-19.

And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”