Mark 8:29 kjv
And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.
Mark 8:29 nkjv
He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered and said to Him, "You are the Christ."
Mark 8:29 niv
"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Messiah."
Mark 8:29 esv
And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Christ."
Mark 8:29 nlt
Then he asked them, "But who do you say I am?" Peter replied, "You are the Messiah. "
Mark 8 29 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 16:16 | Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” | Peter's fuller confession in Matthew's Gospel |
| Matt 16:17 | And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven." | Revelation given by the Father, not human means |
| Luke 9:20 | Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” | Luke's parallel confession, "Christ of God" |
| John 1:41 | He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). | Andrew recognizes Jesus as the Messiah early |
| John 6:68-69 | 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 earlier confession of faith |
| Acts 2:36 | Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” | Peter proclaiming Jesus as Lord and Christ |
| Acts 9:22 | Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. | Paul's post-conversion declaration of Jesus |
| Rom 1:3-4 | concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord | Jesus' dual nature, identified as Christ |
| Phil 2:6-7 | who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself... | Jesus' divine nature as the Christ |
| Col 1:15 | He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. | Jesus' supremacy as God's Son |
| 1 John 5:1 | Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. | Belief in Jesus as Christ for salvation |
| Ps 2:2 | The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed... | Old Testament reference to "Anointed One" |
| Dan 9:25-26 | Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince... | Daniel's prophecy of an Anointed One |
| Isa 61:1 | The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor... | Prophecy fulfilled in Jesus as the Christ |
| Mark 4:41 | And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” | Earlier disciple question about Jesus' identity |
| Mark 8:27-28 | On the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” ... “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” | Popular opinions contrasting Peter's confession |
| Mark 8:30 | Jesus then strictly charged them to tell no one about him. | Jesus' "Messianic Secret" immediately after Peter's confession |
| Mark 8:31 | And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. | Immediately after Peter's confession, Jesus speaks of His suffering |
| Luke 18:34 | But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said. | Disciples' ongoing difficulty in understanding Jesus' mission |
| 1 Cor 12:3 | Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. | True confession of Jesus' identity is Spirit-inspired |
| Eph 3:4-5 | When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ... now has been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. | The mystery of Christ's identity revealed by the Spirit |
| John 20:31 | but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. | Purpose of Gospel: belief in Jesus as Christ for life |
Mark 8 verses
Mark 8 29 Meaning
Mark 8:29 captures a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry: the confession of Peter. After querying popular opinions about His identity, Jesus directly challenges His disciples to state their own understanding. Peter, as spokesman for the Twelve, declares, "You are the Christ." This confession reveals a foundational truth about Jesus' identity as the long-awaited Messiah, a cornerstone of Christian faith and understanding. It signifies a profound, Spirit-revealed acknowledgment of Jesus' unique role and purpose.
Mark 8 29 Context
Mark 8:29 stands as a pivotal moment, a "turning point" in Mark's Gospel. The verse follows Jesus' healing of a blind man at Bethsaida (Mark 8:22-26), a miracle presented in two stages, which symbolically mirrors the disciples' own partial, developing spiritual sight. The preceding verses (Mark 8:27-28) recount Jesus asking the disciples about public opinion concerning His identity. They report common perceptions: John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the prophets. This sets the stage for Jesus' direct, crucial question in verse 29, challenging the disciples to move beyond popular speculation to personal conviction. The setting in Caesarea Philippi, a city dominated by pagan worship and allegiance to Caesar, provides a dramatic backdrop for the declaration of Jesus as the true Christ, contrasting worldly kingdoms with His spiritual one. This confession then immediately precedes Jesus' first passion prediction, fundamentally redefining the understanding of the Messiah from a triumphant king to a suffering servant, an idea Peter initially struggles with (Mark 8:31-33).
Mark 8 29 Word analysis
- And he asked them: The Greek word is epērōta (ἐπηρώτα), imperfect tense. This implies a sustained or repeated inquiry, indicating Jesus' persistent effort to draw out a deeper understanding from His disciples, not just a casual question. It sets up the solemnity of the moment.
- "But who": The Greek particle de (δὲ) here translated "but" serves to draw a contrast. After reviewing popular opinion ("who do people say I am?"), Jesus now zeroes in on their personal conviction. It sharpens the question, demanding an individual, discerning response.
- "do you say": The Greek pronoun hymeis (ὑμεῖς) is plural, indicating Jesus addresses all the disciples collectively. The question is directed to them as His followers, those who have spent significant time with Him and should possess a unique insight. It highlights the collective spiritual discernment required.
- "that I am?": The Greek egō eimi (ἐγώ εἰμι) literally "I I am" or "I am I." While not as overtly indicative of divine identity as in John's Gospel, where it echoes Yahweh's "I AM," it still signifies an extraordinary, existential declaration of self. Jesus forces them to define His unique being, not merely His role.
- Peter: His name, Petros (Πέτρος), meaning "Rock," already foreshadows his foundational role, highlighted in Matthew's parallel account (Matt 16:18). He frequently serves as the spokesman for the Twelve.
- answered him: The Greek apokritheis (ἀποκριθείς), a participle, suggests Peter responded promptly and definitively to the immediate query.
- "You are": The Greek pronoun Sy (Σὺ) is singular, emphasizing the personal and direct nature of Peter's confession to Jesus. It is a one-to-one, unequivocal affirmation.
- "the Christ.": The Greek phrase ho Christos (ὁ Χριστός).
- "ho" (ὁ): The definite article "the" is crucial. It signifies not just a messiah, but the long-anticipated, unique Anointed One. It points to a singular figure promised throughout Old Testament prophecy.
- "Christos" (Χριστός): The Greek translation of the Hebrew Mashiach (מָשִׁיחַ), meaning "Anointed One." In the Old Testament, kings, priests, and prophets were anointed. Over time, "the Anointed One" specifically came to refer to the deliverer, the King-Messiah, whom Israel awaited to establish God's kingdom and liberate His people. Peter's declaration affirms Jesus as this very person.
Mark 8 29 Bonus section
The immediate injunction from Jesus to the disciples after Peter's confession ("He charged them to tell no one about him" - Mark 8:30) is a prime example of the "Messianic Secret" theme prominent in Mark's Gospel. While Peter's confession is correct, Jesus restricts its open proclamation at this point. This is not because His identity is false, but possibly for several reasons: to prevent His mission from being misunderstood as merely political or nationalistic, to control the timing of the full revelation of His Messiahship (which includes the cross and resurrection), or to ensure the confession arises from genuine faith rather than superficial excitement. It implies that true understanding of Jesus as the Christ must embrace His suffering and death, not just His power, which the disciples were not yet ready to fully grasp. The secret served to redirect focus from a simplistic, triumphalist messianic expectation to the profound, redemptive truth of His cross and resurrection.
Mark 8 29 Commentary
Mark 8:29 is a linchpin verse in the Gospel, representing a turning point in both Jesus' public ministry and the disciples' understanding. Prior to this, Jesus' identity, though demonstrated through miracles and teaching, was perceived by the crowds through various filters (a prophet, John the Baptist, Elijah). Here, Jesus forces the issue with His inner circle: "But who do you say that I am?" It's not about public opinion, but a deeply personal and theological revelation.
Peter's confession, "You are the Christ," is monumental. It affirms Jesus' true nature as the long-awaited Anointed One of Israel, the prophesied Messiah who would bring God's kingdom. This is not mere guesswork but, as Matthew's account reveals (Matt 16:17), a truth revealed by God the Father. This confession validates Jesus' entire mission and persona up to this point.
However, Peter's understanding, while accurate in designation, was incomplete regarding the nature of Christ's mission. Immediately following this confession, Jesus begins to speak of His suffering, rejection, and death (Mark 8:31). This new teaching clashes dramatically with the prevailing Jewish messianic expectations of a conquering hero, a concept Peter immediately resists (Mark 8:32-33). This reveals that acknowledging Jesus as the Christ is only the first step; understanding His Christology, centered on suffering and resurrection, is the deeper, more challenging truth of discipleship. This verse thus inaugurates a shift in Mark's narrative from the "identity" of Jesus to the "demands" of following Him on His path of suffering.