Mark 8:27 kjv
And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?
Mark 8:27 nkjv
Now Jesus and His disciples went out to the towns of Caesarea Philippi; and on the road He asked His disciples, saying to them, "Who do men say that I am?"
Mark 8:27 niv
Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?"
Mark 8:27 esv
And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?"
Mark 8:27 nlt
Jesus and his disciples left Galilee and went up to the villages near Caesarea Philippi. As they were walking along, he asked them, "Who do people say I am?"
Mark 8 27 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mt 16:13 | When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi... asking His disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" | Parallel account, identical location & question. |
| Lk 9:18 | One day Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him. He asked them, "Who do the crowds say I am?" | Parallel account, similar question, private context. |
| Mk 8:29 | "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Messiah." | The crucial follow-up question and Peter's pivotal confession. |
| Mk 8:31 | He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things... be killed and after three days rise again. | Immediately after the confession, Jesus reveals His suffering destiny. |
| Jn 6:68-69 | Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God." | Peter's confession of knowledge/belief in Jesus's identity. |
| Mk 1:11 | And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." | Heavenly declaration of Jesus's identity at His baptism. |
| Mk 9:7 | Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!" | Heavenly declaration of Jesus's identity at transfiguration. |
| Isa 53:3 | He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. | Public perception (or lack thereof) foreshadowing the suffering Messiah. |
| 1 Cor 1:21 | For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. | Human wisdom/perception cannot fully grasp God's revelation. |
| Jn 1:11 | He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. | Public (Jewish) rejection/misunderstanding of Christ's identity. |
| Jn 8:23 | But he continued, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world." | Jesus highlighting His distinct, divine origin contrasting worldly views. |
| Mk 4:10-12 | When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables... | Disciples often sought deeper, private understanding from Jesus. |
| Mt 11:2-3 | When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?" | A question about Jesus's identity from a respected prophet. |
| Mk 6:14-15 | King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known... Others said, “He is Elijah.” And still others claimed, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” | Examples of prevalent public speculation about Jesus's identity. |
| Deut 18:15 | The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you... | Prophecy of a great prophet (like Moses) whom people expected, applied to Jesus. |
| Heb 1:1-3 | In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son... | God's ultimate revelation through His Son, surpassing all prophets. |
| Php 2:6-7 | Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. | Christ's divine nature veiled in human form; basis for human misunderstanding. |
| Col 1:15-17 | The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created... | Christ's ultimate identity as Creator and supreme over all creation. |
| 1 Jn 5:20 | We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. | The purpose of Christ's coming: to reveal God and grant understanding. |
| Eph 4:13 | until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. | The importance of knowing the Son of God for spiritual maturity. |
| Mt 16:16-17 | Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." 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." | Emphasizes divine revelation, not human understanding, for true confession. |
| Isa 9:6 | For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. | Prophecy of the Messiah's multifaceted and divine identity. |
Mark 8 verses
Mark 8 27 Meaning
Mark 8:27 initiates a pivotal dialogue where Jesus deliberately shifts the focus from His public miracles and teaching to His identity and destiny. By moving His disciples away from the familiar Jewish Galilee into the pagan stronghold of Caesarea Philippi, He prompts them to articulate their understanding of who He truly is amidst a world of competing deities and human philosophies. This initial question serves as a diagnostic, assessing the common public perception of Him before revealing His divine-human identity and the necessity of His suffering.
Mark 8 27 Context
Mark chapter 8 marks a crucial transition in Jesus's ministry. It follows significant events demonstrating Jesus's power and compassion, such as the second feeding of the four thousand (Mk 8:1-10) and the healing of a blind man at Bethsaida (Mk 8:22-26), which partially parallels the disciples' developing spiritual insight. Previously, Jesus has mostly taught parables and performed public miracles in Galilee. Now, the scene shifts north to the predominantly pagan region of Caesarea Philippi, away from the immediate pressures of Jewish opposition, creating an opportune private setting. This geographical and thematic shift signals a change in focus from general public ministry to intensive, personal discipleship regarding His true identity and the necessity of His suffering, setting the stage for the first passion prediction.
Mark 8 27 Word analysis
- And Jesus: The conjunction "And" (καὶ, kai) links this critical scene to the preceding events, showing a continuation in narrative flow. Jesus is the central figure, deliberately initiating this pivotal conversation.
- went out: (ἐξῆλθεν, exēlthen) Implies a deliberate departure. Jesus led them away from the crowds, creating a private setting conducive to profound revelation, indicating intentionality in His teaching method.
- and his disciples: The question is directed specifically to His inner circle, the twelve whom He had been training. This signifies a call for a deeper, more personal understanding from them.
- into the villages: (εἰς τὰς κώμας, eis tas kōmas) Suggests the surrounding areas or suburbs, indicating a quieter, more secluded place suitable for intimate conversation, distinct from the bustling city center of Caesarea Philippi.
- of Caesarea Philippi: (Καισαρείας τῆς Φιλίππου, Kaisareias tēs Philippou) A highly significant location, named by Herod Philip II in honor of Tiberius Caesar and himself. This city was predominantly Gentile, home to temples dedicated to pagan deities like Pan and to Emperor Augustus, making it a prominent symbol of idolatry and Roman imperial power. Its selection highlights a stark contrast, providing a powerful backdrop against which Jesus's true identity and universal kingdom claims would be articulated as supreme over all human and false divinities.
- and by the way: (ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ, en tē hodō) Meaning "on the road" or "while traveling," this emphasizes that the conversation occurred during their journey. This informal, itinerant context provided a setting for intimate teaching, underlining that spiritual understanding is part of a continuous journey of discipleship and subtly foreshadows "the way" (the path of suffering) Jesus was about to reveal.
- he asked: (ἐπηρώτα, epērōta) The Greek imperfect tense implies a continuous or repeated action, suggesting this was not a sudden question but perhaps part of an ongoing dialogue or a persistent, deliberate probing by Jesus to draw out their understanding.
- his disciples: Reaffirming the specific and private nature of this inquiry, targeting those closest to Him for crucial revelation.
- saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?: This is the first of a two-part question, designed to ascertain public opinion about Jesus. It serves as a diagnostic, assessing the common understanding and often misconceptions about Him among the populace, before inviting a more profound, personal confession from the disciples. This query allows the disciples to articulate the various human theories concerning His identity (prophet, Elijah, John the Baptist), setting a contrast with the divinely revealed truth that follows.
Mark 8 27 Bonus section
The choice of Caesarea Philippi is highly symbolic. In Matthew's parallel account (Mt 16:18), this is the location where Jesus speaks of building His Church upon the rock of Peter's confession, stating that "the gates of Hades will not overcome it." Many scholars identify the very "gates of Hades" with the massive rock cliff in Caesarea Philippi that housed cultic niches, often interpreted as entrances to the underworld. This reinforces the idea that Jesus deliberately chose this pagan stronghold to declare His ultimate authority and establish His kingdom in defiance of all dark forces and false worship. The dialogue therefore occurs not merely in a private place, but at a spiritually charged locus, underscoring the clash between the Kingdom of God and worldly systems, and the profound, cosmic significance of identifying Jesus as the Messiah.
Mark 8 27 Commentary
Mark 8:27 marks a strategic and pivotal moment in the Gospel. By leading His disciples to Caesarea Philippi, a place permeated with pagan worship and imperial Roman authority, Jesus intentionally creates a setting where the profound question of His identity stands in stark contrast to competing worldly and false claims to ultimate power. The preceding miraculous healings and the specific healing of the blind man at Bethsaida (Mk 8:22-26), where sight was restored in stages, parallel the disciples' own journey from spiritual dimness to clearer understanding. Jesus's initial inquiry about public opinion ("Whom do men say that I am?") is a masterful pedagogical technique. It not only establishes the range of existing perceptions and misunderstandings about Him but also clears the path for a deeper, personal confession. This conversation pivots the narrative from Jesus's general Galilean ministry of miracles and parables towards His definitive self-disclosure as the suffering Messiah and His direct instruction on the costly demands of true discipleship, laying the groundwork for all that is to come.