"The church" has a special meaning reserved for the generations of people after Jesus resurrection who believe that Jesus is the long awaited Jewish Messiah. Those who hung him on the cross are those who didn't recognize him when he showed up on schedule as prophesied 69*7=483 Jewish years earlier to the day in Daniel 9.

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. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it. -- Matthew 16:18