Matthew 16:13-16
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Jesus asks who people say he is, but he's not asking for a popularity poll; he's carefully setting the stage to reveal a deeper truth about his identity that most people were missing. He wants his disciples to recognize the difference between public opinion and the divine revelation of who he truly is.
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus and his disciples are traveling in the northern region of Galilee, near the city of Caesarea Philippi. In this remote location, Jesus poses a critical question to his disciples about how people perceive him, initiating a pivotal conversation that will lead to Peter's great confession and Jesus' deeper revelation about his identity and mission.
Why would Jesus ask his disciples what people were saying about him? And why ask it in a place far from Jerusalem, a city connected to pagan worship?
Jesus brings his disciples to Caesarea Philippi, a city with a complex religious history. It was a place where Greek and Roman gods were worshipped, and it also had a strong connection to paganism.
A New Setting for a Crucial Question
Jesus deliberately leads his disciples here, away from the crowds and the religious debates of Jerusalem. This remote location, named after Roman emperors and pagan deities, provides a unique backdrop for his question: 'Who do people say that the Son of Man is?'
This isn't just a casual inquiry. Jesus is preparing his disciples for a profound shift in their understanding of him. By asking about popular opinion, he sets the stage to reveal his true identity beyond the common perceptions.
Jesus often called himself the 'Son of Man.' What did this title mean then, and why was it so important for his disciples to grasp?
The title 'Son of Man' is rich with meaning, especially in the Old Testament. It connects Jesus to the prophecy in Daniel 7, where a figure like a 'son of man' receives dominion, glory, and sovereignty from the Ancient of Days.
More Than Just Human
When Jesus uses this title, he's pointing to his divine authority and his destined role as King. It’s a way for him to identify with humanity – to be truly one of us – while simultaneously revealing his unique divine mission. It's a title that hints at his suffering and his ultimate triumph.
Ask a follow-up
The disciples, hearing this, might have thought of him as a powerful human leader or a prophet. Jesus uses their understanding of this title to then guide them towards the even deeper truth of his divine identity.
What were people saying about Jesus at this time? Were their ideas close to the truth, or completely off the mark?
When Jesus asks what people are saying, the disciples' answer reveals a spectrum of opinions, none of which fully capture Jesus's identity.
Mixed Perceptions
Some thought he was John the Baptist, perhaps risen from the dead. Others believed he was Elijah or one of the other prophets. These were respected figures, but they were still prophets – messengers of God, not God himself.
This shows how people were struggling to fit Jesus into their existing categories. They recognized his power and spiritual significance, but they couldn't quite grasp that he was something entirely new, something more: the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.
Understand the original words
huios tou anthrōpou · Greek Noun Phrase
A title frequently used by Jesus for himself, rooted in Daniel 7:13-14, denoting his messianic authority, his humanity, and his future role as judge and king of the coming kingdom.
Ēlias · Greek Noun
A major Old Testament prophet who was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind and expected by Jewish tradition to return before the coming of the Messiah.
Hieremias · Greek Noun
A major Old Testament prophet known for his message of judgment and repentance to Israel and his deep, personal lamentation for the nation.
prophētēs · Greek Noun
One who speaks on behalf of God, delivering divine messages to the people, often involving calls to repentance, warnings of judgment, or predictions of future salvation.
Christos · Greek Noun
The Greek title translating the Hebrew 'Messiah,' meaning 'Anointed One.' It refers to the one set apart by God for the office of Prophet, Priest, and King to redeem His people.
Jesus's question in the politically charged region of Caesarea Philippi, a city bearing the name of the Roman emperor, highlights the contrast between earthly powers and the divine kingdom He represents. It sets the stage for Peter's confession of Jesus's true identity.
c. 20 BC - 4 BC
Herod the Great Rebuilds Caesarea
Herod the Great, Jesus's supposed earthly father, rebuilds the ancient city of Paneas, renaming it Caesarea in honor of Emperor Augustus. This city becomes a significant administrative center in the northern region.
c. 4 BC - AD 34
Philip the Tetrarch Rules
Philip, son of Herod the Great, rules as tetrarch over the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, including Caesarea. He further develops the city, renaming it Caesarea Philippi to distinguish it from the coastal Caesarea and honor Emperor Tiberius.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus's Galilean Ministry
Jesus conducts much of His public ministry in Galilee, a region near Caesarea Philippi. This period sees growing crowds and increasing speculation about His identity.
c. AD 30— this verse
Journey to Caesarea Philippi
Jesus and His disciples travel north towards Caesarea Philippi. This journey marks a significant transition in Jesus's ministry, moving towards His eventual passion.
c. AD 30
Peter's Confession
In response to Jesus's question, Peter declares Jesus to be the Christ, the Son of the living God. This is a pivotal moment of recognition and affirmation of Jesus's divine identity.
c. AD 30
Jesus Predicts His Suffering
Following Peter's confession, Jesus begins to explain to His disciples the necessity of His suffering, death, and resurrection.
This passage is a parallel account of the same event, showing that Jesus began to inquire about his identity while on the road with his disciples, providing context for his question.
Luke 9:18This parallel account highlights that Jesus asked this question while he was praying alone with his disciples, emphasizing the prayerful and intentional nature of this pivotal moment.
Matthew 16:15This verse immediately follows the inquiry, showing Jesus' direct follow-up question to his disciples, 'But who do you say that I am?', creating a direct contrast between public perception and personal belief.
Isaiah 53:3This Old Testament prophecy describes the suffering servant as being 'despised and rejected by men,' which resonates with the varied and often incorrect opinions people held about Jesus' identity in Matthew 16:13.
John 1:41This verse shows Andrew identifying Jesus to his brother as the 'Messiah,' demonstrating that the concept of Jesus as the awaited Christ was already being proclaimed, setting the stage for Jesus' deeper inquiry into who people believed him to be.
barnesMatthew 16:13: "When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?"
See also Mark 8:27-29 , and Luke 9:18-20 . Cesarea Philippi - There were two cities in Judea called Caesarea. One was situated on the borders of the Mediterranean (See the notes at Acts 8:40), and the other was the one mentioned here. This city was greatly enlarged and ornamented by Philip the tetrarch, son of Herod, and called Caesarea in honor of the…
calvinMatthew 16:13-19: "When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?"
- And when Jesus came to the coasts of Cesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Who do men say that I the Son of man am? 14. And they said, Some [say,] John the Baptist; and other, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. 15. He saith to them, But who do you say that I am? 16. And Simon Peter answering said, Thou art the Chri…
Jesus asks who people say he is, but he's not asking for a popularity poll; he's carefully setting the stage to reveal a deeper truth about his identity that most people were missing. He wants his disciples to recognize the difference between public opinion and the divine revelation of who he truly is.
Jesus and his disciples are traveling in the northern region of Galilee, near the city of Caesarea Philippi. In this remote location, Jesus poses a critical question to his disciples about how people perceive him, initiating a pivotal conversation that will lead to Peter's great confession and Jesus' deeper revelation about his identity and mission.
Jesus and his disciples are traveling in the northern region of Galilee, near the city of Caesarea Philippi. In this remote location, Jesus poses a critical question to his disciples about how people perceive him, initiating a pivotal conversation that will lead to Peter's great confession and Jesus' deeper revelation about his identity and mission.
"Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He s…" — Jesus asks who people say he is, but he's not asking for a popularity poll; he's carefully setting the stage to reveal a deeper truth about his identity that most people were missing. He wants his…
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Last reviewed October 2026
