Luke 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?
Luke 9:18 nkjv
And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, "Who do the crowds say that I am?"
Luke 9:18 niv
Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say I am?"
Luke 9:18 esv
Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, "Who do the crowds say that I am?"
Luke 9:18 nlt
One day Jesus left the crowds to pray alone. Only his disciples were with him, and he asked them, "Who do people say I am?"
Luke 9 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 16:13-14 | Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist..." | Parallel account of identity question. |
| Mark 8:27-28 | And Jesus went on with His disciples... And He asked them, "Who do men say that I am?" And they told Him, "John the Baptist; and others, Elijah..." | Another parallel account of the same query. |
| Luke 5:16 | But He would withdraw to desolate places and pray. | Jesus' habitual practice of solitary prayer. |
| Luke 6:12 | In these days He went out to the mountain to pray, and all night He continued in prayer to God. | Jesus' extended prayer before choosing the Twelve. |
| Luke 11:1 | Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray..." | Disciples observe Jesus praying. |
| Mark 1:35 | And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He departed and went out to a desolate place, and there He prayed. | Jesus prioritizes solitary prayer. |
| Matt 14:23 | And after He had dismissed the crowds, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray... | Jesus seeks solitude for prayer after public ministry. |
| John 6:66-69 | After this many of His disciples turned back... Jesus said to the Twelve, "Do you want to go away as well?" Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that You are the Holy One of God." | Peter's understanding of Jesus' identity. |
| 1 Cor 2:10-11 | ...for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God... For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person...? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. | Divine revelation needed to know God's true identity. |
| Phil 3:7-8 | But whatever gain I had, I count as loss for the sake of Christ... indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. | The ultimate value in knowing Christ. |
| John 1:19-21 | ...They asked him, "Who are you?"... He confessed, "I am not the Christ." They asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No." | Public expectations of figures like the Messiah. |
| John 7:40-43 | When they heard these words, some of the people said, "This really is the Prophet." Others said, "This is the Christ." But some said, "Is the Christ to come from Galilee?" | Public debate and varying opinions about Jesus' identity. |
| Acts 3:22-24 | Moses said, "The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me..." Indeed, all the prophets... proclaimed these days. | Public identification of Jesus as "the Prophet" or one like Moses. |
| Ps 2:7 | You are My Son; today I have begotten You. | Heavenly proclamation of Messiah's identity. |
| Isa 42:1-4 | Behold My Servant, Whom I uphold, My chosen, in Whom My soul delights... He will bring forth justice to the nations. | Prophetic understanding of the Servant, Messianic role. |
| Luke 9:20 | He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered, "The Christ of God." | Immediate follow-up question leading to confession. |
| Heb 5:7-8 | In the days of His flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications... Although He was a son, He learned obedience through what He suffered. | Jesus' humanity and reliance on prayer, and suffering. |
| Isa 53:1-3 | Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot... a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief... | The public's limited understanding of the Messiah's suffering nature. |
| Acts 17:16-34 | Paul preaches in Athens, engaging various philosophical ideas and explaining the unknown God, concluding with the resurrection. | General populace's varied understanding of spiritual matters. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. | Those who truly know Him proclaim His identity. |
Luke 9 verses
Luke 9 18 Meaning
Luke 9:18 captures a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry, emphasizing His consistent practice of solitary prayer before engaging His disciples in a profound conversation about His identity. This verse serves as a critical transition, highlighting the private communion between Jesus and His Father as the source from which public revelation and core theological truths about the Messiah emerge, preparing the way for Peter's foundational confession.
Luke 9 18 Context
Luke chapter 9 marks a significant turning point in Jesus' ministry narrative. It begins with the commissioning of the Twelve to preach the kingdom and heal (Lk 9:1-6), followed by Herod's perplexed inquiry about Jesus' identity (Lk 9:7-9). The chapter then describes the miraculous feeding of the five thousand (Lk 9:10-17), which prompts massive public excitement and speculation about who Jesus truly is. Immediately after this event, and before the monumental confession of Peter and the Transfiguration, Jesus withdraws to pray. This solitary prayer serves as the spiritual crucible from which He then engages His disciples on the crucial question of His identity, transitioning from public perception to the disciples' personal revelation, setting the stage for deeper teaching on the path to Jerusalem and His suffering.
Luke 9 18 Word analysis
- And it came to pass (Kai egeneto): This is a common Septuagintal and Lukan idiomatic introductory phrase. It often signifies the introduction of a new, significant event or shift in narrative. It implies divine intention or a pre-ordained course of events unfolding.
- as He was alone (autos monos): "Monos" (μόνος) signifies "alone," "only," or "solitary." This word highlights Jesus' physical and spiritual withdrawal. Despite having disciples present, He intentionally separates Himself to be in intimate communion with the Father. It speaks to the personal and non-transferable nature of deep spiritual prayer.
- praying (proseuchomenon): This is a present participle (present continuous tense) of the Greek verb "proseuchomai" (προσεύχομαι), meaning "to pray, to worship." It indicates an ongoing, habitual practice rather than a one-time event. This reinforces Jesus' consistent life of prayer and dependence on God for guidance and strength, setting an example for His followers.
- His disciples (hoi mathētai autou): The immediate context reveals the presence of His close followers, the Twelve, who had just returned from their mission. This juxtaposition of "alone praying" and "disciples were with Him" suggests they were in His vicinity, observing or waiting, but not directly participating in this specific act of solitary communion. It underscores the distinction between collective ministry and private devotion.
- were with Him (ēsant syn auto): The phrase "were with" (syn) implies close proximity or association. While Jesus was alone in the act of praying, His disciples were not distant but were companions, ready for His return or further instruction. This highlights a subtle tension: physical closeness versus spiritual solitude.
- and He asked them, saying (kai epērōtēsen autous legōn): "Epērōtēsen" (ἐπηρώτησεν) comes from "eperōtaō," which means to "interrogate, inquire of, or consult." It's stronger than a simple question; it suggests a request for information or clarification, or to elicit a response critical for discernment. The phrase "saying" introduces the direct quote.
- 'Who do the multitudes say that I am?' (Tis me hoi ochloi legousin einai?): This is a crucial strategic question. Jesus first probes the public's perception of His identity ("hoi ochloi" - the crowds, the general populace). This demonstrates an awareness of widespread public opinion and a need to address it. It sets up the immediate subsequent, more penetrating question: "Who do you say that I am?" (Lk 9:20), differentiating between common understanding and divine revelation received by true followers.
Luke 9 18 Bonus section
The placement of this event immediately after the feeding of the five thousand is highly significant. The feeding miracle fueled intense popular messianic expectation, as many hoped for a political Messiah to free them from Roman rule (cf. John 6:15). By first withdrawing to pray and then asking about public opinion, Jesus demonstrates that His identity and mission are not defined by popular clamor or worldly expectations, but by divine purpose discerned through communion with God. This divine grounding prepares both Jesus and His disciples for the stark reality of His true mission—a suffering Messiah (Lk 9:22)—which would drastically challenge public and even initial disciple-level understanding of the Christ.
Luke 9 18 Commentary
Luke 9:18 encapsulates the spiritual discipline of Jesus and its foundational role in His ministry. His consistent practice of solitary prayer—even amidst the presence of His disciples—demonstrates absolute reliance on the Father and models essential spiritual formation for all believers. This withdrawal for deep communion precedes a monumental turning point in the disciples' understanding of His identity. The transition from private prayer to public inquiry is not arbitrary; it suggests that divine revelation and a clear understanding of who Christ is, both personally and for His mission, emerge from a profound connection with God. Jesus' question to His disciples, first gauging public opinion and then pivoting to their personal confession, served to deepen their conviction and prepare them for the radical path of discipleship, foreshadowing the challenges ahead in His journey to Jerusalem and the cross. It teaches that discerning Christ's true nature often begins with observation but matures through a Spirit-led, personal revelation, nurtured by prayer.