Section 8:27–30

Peter declared that Jesus is the Christ

After Jesus healed the blind man in Bethsaida, he and his disciples left the region of Galilee and traveled north. They went to the towns around the city of Caesarea Philippi, which was near the northern border of Israel.

As they were traveling, Jesus asked his disciples what people were saying about who he was. This question concerned his spiritual identity; that is, whether God had sent him and what his mission was. He then asked the disciples what they themselves thought about him. Peter replied that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah. Jesus then ordered them not to tell others who he was.

It is good to translate this section before you decide on a heading for it.

Here are some other possible headings for this section:

Peter’s declaration that Jesus is the Christ
-or-
Peter believes that Jesus is the Christ

There are parallel passages for this section in Matthew 16:13–16 and Luke 9:18–21.

Paragraph 8:27–30

8:27a

Then: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Then introduces the next story. This story (found in 8:27–30) began sometime after the story in 8:22–26 ended. The Greek text does not indicate how much time passed between these two stories. In some languages, it is natural to begin a story with a time word or phrase. If your language does that, use an expression here that is not too specific. For example:

After that
-or-
Sometime later

His disciples: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as disciples means “learners” who are in a relationship with a teacher. The learners commit themselves to their teacher in order to learn from him and live according to his teaching and example. In the New Testament disciples often lived with their teacher and followed him wherever he went.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

students/learners
-or-
apprentices
-or-
followers

See how you translated this term at 2:15b and 8:1c. See also disciple in the Glossary for more information.

went on: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as went on literally means “went out.” Jesus and his disciples left or “went out” from the town of Bethsaida in Galilee. The New Living Translation makes explicit that they left Galilee. It has:

left Galilee and went up to the villages near Caesarea Philippi

Your translation of 8:27a should not imply that Jesus and his disciples arrived in Caesarea Philippi before the events of 8:27c. Some English versions have made this clear by using a different verb. For example:

set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi (Revised English Bible)
-or-
left for the villages round Caesarea Philippi (New Jerusalem Bible)

8:27b

to the villages around Caesarea Philippi: The phrase villages around Caesarea Philippi refers to the villages or towns that were near the city called Caesarea Philippi.

Caesarea Philippi: Caesarea Philippi was a city that was near the northern border of Israel. Although it was in Israel, the majority of people there were not Jews. They worshiped pagan gods. The name Caesarea Philippi distinguished this city from another city called Caesarea on the coast of Israel north of Joppa.

8:27c

On the way, He questioned His disciples: Jesus asked his disciples the question in 8:27d while he was traveling with them. They may have been traveling northward from Galilee or else traveling between towns in the area around Caesarea Philippi. Since we do not know their exact location, translate it in a general way.

8:27d

Who do people say I am?: The question Who do people say I am? is asking more than who Jesus’ parents were, where he grew up, or what his name was. Jesus knew that the people who saw him do miracles had an opinion about how he got such power. The disciples’ response shows that the people believed that Jesus was a prophet, perhaps the great prophet Elijah or John the Baptist. Translate the question in 8:27d in a way that fits with the response in 8:28.

people: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as people refers to people in general. Jesus was probably referring to people in the crowds who came to listen to him.

say: In this context the verb say refers to what the people thought or believed, as well as to what they said. In some languages it may be more natural to use a verb like “think” or “believe” here.

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