Luke 9:28 kjv

And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.

Luke 9:28 nkjv

Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray.

Luke 9:28 niv

About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.

Luke 9:28 esv

Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray.

Luke 9:28 nlt

About eight days later Jesus took Peter, John, and James up on a mountain to pray.

Luke 9 verses

Luke 9 28 Meaning

Luke 9:28 describes the setting for the Transfiguration event. After a pivotal discussion on discipleship, suffering, and the coming glory of the Son of Man, Jesus intentionally separates Himself from the multitude. He selects three of His closest disciples—Peter, John, and James—and leads them to a mountain with the specific purpose of praying. This act of seeking solitary prayer in a high place sets the stage for a profound divine revelation of His true identity and future glory.

Luke 9 28 Context

Luke 9:28 is strategically positioned immediately following Jesus' foundational teachings on radical discipleship. In the preceding verses (Luke 9:22-27), Jesus predicts His own suffering and resurrection (His first explicit passion prediction) and then challenges His disciples to deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow Him. He stresses the value of one's soul over the world and warns against being ashamed of Him or His words. The climax of this section is the promise that some standing there would not die until they see "the kingdom of God" (Luke) or "the Son of Man coming in His kingdom/glory" (Matthew/Mark). The Transfiguration, introduced by Luke 9:28, serves as the immediate and powerful fulfillment of that promise, offering a pre-enactment and vivid confirmation of the glory He spoke of. It validates Jesus' claims and provides a necessary glimpse of His divine majesty to sustain the disciples through the impending events of His passion. This setting also reinforces Jesus' consistent practice of prayer before major life events and revelations, particularly in Luke's Gospel.

Luke 9 28 Word analysis

• And it came to pass (Καὶ ἐγένετο - kai egeneto): A common Lukan literary device often used to introduce a new scene or significant event. It links the previous narrative seamlessly with what follows, emphasizing continuity in the divine unfolding of events.
• about eight days (ὡσεὶ ἡμέραι ὀκτὼ - hōsei hēmerai oktō): This precise temporal marker, unique to Luke (Matthew and Mark state "after six days"), is significant. "About eight days" likely refers to an inclusive counting from a specific event, possibly making it numerically consistent with the "six days" in the other Gospels. Some scholars see a theological emphasis in "eight," linking it to new beginnings or creation (as in the first day of a new week after seven days, or the day of resurrection) and pointing to the New Covenant reality. It signifies a short, distinct period.
• after these sayings (μετὰ τοὺς λόγους τούτους - meta tous logous toutous): Directly connects the Transfiguration event to Jesus' preceding difficult teachings (Luke 9:22-27) regarding His suffering, discipleship's cost (cross-bearing, self-denial), and His future glorious return. The event served as a powerful, divine confirmation and visual demonstration of the truth and necessity of these very "sayings."
• he took Peter and John and James (παραλαβὼν Πέτρον καὶ Ἰωάννην καὶ Ἰάκωβον - paralabōn Petron kai Iōannēn kai Iakōbon): Jesus selectively brings only three of His twelve disciples, forming an "inner circle" who repeatedly witness particularly significant moments (e.g., raising Jairus' daughter, Gethsemane). Their selection indicates a privileged witnessing role for crucial divine revelations and insights into Jesus' person and mission, implying these events were too sacred or profound for the broader group at that stage.
• and went up (ἀνέβη - anebē): Implies ascent, a movement to a higher, separate place. This physical act often carries symbolic weight in Scripture, indicating a departure from the ordinary, a seeking of solitude, and a proximity to divine revelation or encounter with God.
• into a mountain (εἰς τὸ ὄρος - eis to oros): Mountains in biblical narrative frequently serve as places of profound spiritual experience, divine manifestation, covenant-making, and significant prayer (e.g., Mount Sinai for Moses, Mount Carmel for Elijah). It is a setting for holy encounter, symbolizing spiritual elevation and a removal from the everyday.
• to pray (προσεύξασθαι - proseuxasthai): This specific purpose for ascending the mountain highlights Luke's unique emphasis on Jesus' prayer life as central to His ministry. It signifies Jesus' dependence on the Father, His communion with Him, and that significant divine revelations often occur in the context of prayer. This preparation through prayer underlines the solemnity and divine origin of the event that follows.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "about eight days after these sayings": This phrase emphasizes the direct causal and thematic link between Jesus' difficult teachings on suffering and discipleship and the glorious revelation to come. The short timeframe suggests an immediate, validating response from God to His Son's message, giving the disciples a much-needed glimpse of ultimate glory to brace them for future challenges.
• "he took Peter and John and James": The deliberate selection of this specific trio underscores their special calling as premier witnesses to Jesus' identity and unique divine power. It signifies a profound, intimate revelation that was not meant for the masses but for a select few who would serve as the foundational pillars of the early church.
• "and went up into a mountain to pray": This entire phrase encapsulates several layers of significance. The "mountain" sets the scene for a sacred, high-stakes encounter with the divine. "To pray" highlights Jesus' habitual spiritual discipline and profound communion with the Father, emphasizing that revelation and spiritual breakthroughs often originate from and are preceded by devoted prayer. It frames the Transfiguration not as a random event, but as a direct result of Jesus' deep fellowship with God.

Luke 9 28 Bonus section

• Luke's emphasis on Jesus going "to pray" highlights that the Transfiguration was not just a miraculous display but a direct response and outcome of Jesus' communion with the Father. In Luke's Gospel, significant moments in Jesus' life are consistently framed by prayer (e.g., baptism, choosing apostles, Peter's confession, Gethsemane).
• The "about eight days" interval found only in Luke can be seen as having eschatological or new creation significance, marking the newness and revelation of God's kingdom beyond the traditional six days of creation or the seven days of the week, potentially pointing to the new spiritual reality ushered in by Christ's glory.
• The selection of Peter, John, and James underscores their future roles as pillars in the early Church (Gal 2:9). This shared privileged experience binds them in a unique testimony to the glory of Christ, preparing them for the leadership and challenges ahead.

Luke 9 28 Commentary

Luke 9:28 is not merely a chronological marker but a foundational setup for one of the most significant Christological revelations: the Transfiguration. Following Jesus' unsettling predictions of His suffering and demanding call to self-denial, this verse bridges those challenges with a powerful divine affirmation. By taking His inner circle to a mountain specifically "to pray," Jesus models a consistent pattern of seeking His Father before pivotal moments, especially those involving divine revelation or intense spiritual conflict. The mountain setting evokes biblical imagery of holy ground where humanity meets God, signifying the profound nature of the event about to unfold. The choice of Peter, James, and John underscores their role as essential witnesses to His divine glory, a necessary precursor to understanding His true identity as Messiah who must suffer, as previously proclaimed. The Transfiguration, triggered by this moment of prayer, thus provides the disciples a vision of Jesus' ultimate glory, strengthening their faith to endure the path of the cross, just as Jesus himself drew strength through prayer for His own imminent suffering.