18And it came to pass, as He was in solitary prayer, with Him were the disciples, and He questioned them, saying: "Whom do the crowds pronounce Me to be?" [9:19] And they, answering, said: "John the Baptist; but others say Elijah; and others say that a prophet, one of the ancients, has arisen." [9:20] He said then to them: "But you yourselves — whom do you pronounce Me to be?" And Peter, answering, said: "The Christ of God."
LUK 9:18-20
Peterʼs Confession of Christ
In the world it was spoken into
In the 1st-century Jewish context, Jesus’s question about His identity would have resonated deeply with messianic expectations. The crowds’ responses—John the Baptist, Elijah, or a prophet—reflect common Jewish beliefs about eschatological figures. John the Baptist was seen by many as a prophetic forerunner, while Elijah was expected to return before the Day of the Lord (Malachi 4:5). Prophets like Jeremiah or others from the past were also anticipated to herald God’s intervention. Peter’s confession, 'The Christ of God,' identifies Jesus as the Messiah, a title laden with political and theological significance. In Jewish thought, the Messiah was expected to restore Israel’s sovereignty and fulfill God’s promises. However, Jesus’s withdrawal to pray in solitude underscores His deliberate distancing from popular messianic expectations, which often centered on military or political liberation. This moment highlights the tension between Jesus’s mission and the crowds’ understanding of messianic deliverance.
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How other translations render this
LUK 9:18
- KJV
- And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?
- BSB
- One day as Jesus was praying in private and the disciples were with Him, He questioned them: “Who do the crowds say I am?”
- Koinōnos
- And it came to pass, as He was in solitary prayer, with Him were the disciples, and He questioned them, saying: "Whom do the crowds pronounce Me to be?
LUK 9:19
- KJV
- They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again.
- BSB
- They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that a prophet of old has arisen.”
- Koinōnos
- And they, answering, said: "John the Baptist; but others say Elijah; and others say that a prophet, one of the ancients, has arisen.
LUK 9:20
- KJV
- He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God.
- BSB
- “But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”
- Koinōnos
- He said then to them: "But you yourselves — whom do you pronounce Me to be?" And Peter, answering, said: "The Christ of God.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
LUK 9:18
- is praying:The word translated 'is praying' emphasizes the act of offering prayers or vows to a deity, highlighting a direct and intentional communication with the divine.
- solitary:The word translated 'solitary' here means being alone or by oneself, emphasizing isolation or singularity rather than a state of loneliness.
- the:The word translated 'the' in this context refers to a 'crowd' or 'throng,' often implying a large, undifferentiated mass of people, sometimes with a sense of being undisciplined.
LUK 9:20
- The:The word translated 'The' here is 'Christ,' which literally means 'anointed one.' It refers to someone set apart for a special role, often a king or priest, through an act of anointing.