Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus specifically takes Peter, John, and James—the same three who would witness his agony in Gethsemane—up the mountain. This isn't just a random hike; it’s a deliberate choice, setting apart these future witnesses for an extraordinary glimpse into God's glory and a crucial preparation for the suffering that lay ahead.
Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Just about a week after Jesus had revealed his identity as the Messiah and then shocked his disciples by predicting his own suffering and death, he took Peter, John, and James aside. They went up a mountain, likely for prayer, setting the stage for a pivotal moment where Jesus' divine glory would be revealed. This vision served as a crucial encouragement for his inner circle, preparing them for the difficult path of the cross that lay ahead.
Jesus faced intense opposition and the disciples' confusion. So, He sought the heights, not to escape, but to connect.
This wasn't just a scenic hike; it was a deliberate retreat. Jesus had just spoken about the suffering the Son of Man must endure, a truth that deeply troubled His disciples. They were likely reeling from this stark prediction, their hopes of a triumphant Messiah dashed. In this moment of spiritual and emotional pressure, Jesus chose to go up a mountain with Peter, James, and John. This wasn't an accidental detour, but a strategic move towards prayer. Mountains, in Scripture, often symbolize a place of divine encounter and clarity. By taking his closest companions, He was preparing them for what was to come and seeking strength and divine affirmation for the arduous road ahead.
Why only Peter, James, and John? This select group would later witness Jesus' agony in the garden. Their spiritual capacity was being uniquely prepared.
Jesus didn't take all twelve disciples up the mountain; He chose three: Peter, James, and John. This wasn't arbitrary. These three would later be the sole witnesses to Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane before His arrest. Their role as the 'inner circle' for significant moments—Jairus' daughter raised, Jesus' agony, and now the Transfiguration—shows God's pattern of preparing specific individuals for unique spiritual experiences. This selection isn't about favoritism but about equipping those who would carry the weight of testimony and further bear witness to Christ's divine nature and suffering.
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The 'about eight days' mentioned by Luke, in contrast to Matthew and Mark's 'six days,' highlights how ancient writers often included the beginning and end days in their counts, a subtle detail that provides insight into their methods of reckoning time, particularly when comparing accounts of significant events like the Transfiguration.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus teaches in Galilee and surrounding regions
Jesus conducted his public ministry throughout Galilee and surrounding areas, drawing crowds and attracting the attention of religious and political authorities.
Early 1st century AD— this verse
Jesus predicts his suffering and death
Jesus began to explicitly teach his disciples that he must suffer, be rejected, killed, and raised again. This was a difficult concept for them to grasp.
Early 1st century AD
Transfiguration event on a mountain
Jesus took Peter, James, and John up a mountain, where he was transfigured, appearing in glory with Moses and Elijah. This event likely occurred near Caesarea Philippi.
Early 1st century AD
Descent from the mountain
After the transfiguration, Jesus and his disciples descended the mountain, continuing their journey towards Jerusalem.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus journeying towards Jerusalem
Following the transfiguration, Jesus set his face toward Jerusalem, where he would ultimately fulfill his mission through his death and resurrection.
This passage describes the same event of Jesus' transfiguration, emphasizing its significance in preparing the disciples for His future suffering and death.
Mark 9:2Mark also recounts the transfiguration, highlighting how Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James, and John, underscoring the selection of these specific disciples for this profound experience.
2 Peter 1:16-18Peter himself reflects on the transfiguration, calling it a glimpse of Jesus' divine glory and a confirmation of the prophetic word, directly linking the mountain experience to a foundational understanding of Christ's identity.
Exodus 24:1This Old Testament passage describes Moses being called up to Mount Sinai with Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, mirroring the pattern of Jesus taking key disciples up a mountain, suggesting a divine appointment and revelation in both instances.
Luke 22:39-44This passage shows Jesus taking the same three disciples (Peter, James, and John) to the Mount of Olives to pray during His agony, highlighting their recurring role as witnesses to Jesus' most intense moments of prayer and divine encounter.
vincentLuke 9:28: "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."
A mountainRev., the mountain. The tradition that this mountain was Tabor is generally abandoned, and Mount Hermon is commonly supposed to have been the scene of the transfiguration. "Hermon, which is indeed the centre of all the Promised Land, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt; the mount of fruitfulness, from which the springs of J…
expositorsLuke 9:28: "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."
Chapter 18THE TRANSFIGURATION. The Transfiguration of Christ marks the culminating point in the Divine life; the few remaining months are a rapid descent into the Valley of Sacrifice and Death. The story is told by each of the three Synoptists, with an almost equal amount of detail, and all agree as to the time when it occurred; for though St. Matthew…
Jesus specifically takes Peter, John, and James—the same three who would witness his agony in Gethsemane—up the mountain. This isn't just a random hike; it’s a deliberate choice, setting apart these future witnesses for an extraordinary glimpse into God's glory and a crucial preparation for the suffering that lay ahead.
Just about a week after Jesus had revealed his identity as the Messiah and then shocked his disciples by predicting his own suffering and death, he took Peter, John, and James aside. They went up a mountain, likely for prayer, setting the stage for a pivotal moment where Jesus' divine glory would be revealed. This vision served as a crucial encouragement for his inner circle, preparing them for the difficult path of the cross that lay ahead.
Just about a week after Jesus had revealed his identity as the Messiah and then shocked his disciples by predicting his own suffering and death, he took Peter, John, and James aside. They went up a mountain, likely for prayer, setting the stage for a pivotal moment where Jesus' divine glory would be revealed. This vision served as a crucial encouragement for his inner circle, preparing them for the difficult path of the cross that lay ahead.
"Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray." — Jesus specifically takes Peter, John, and James—the same three who would witness his agony in Gethsemane—up the mountain. This isn't just a random hike; it’s a deliberate choice, setting apart these…
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Last reviewed October 2026