The Transfiguration

²⁸ Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus^[a] took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray.^(A)

Jesus Chooses the Twelve Apostles

¹² Now during those days he went out to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God.^(A)

³³ He took with him Peter and James and John and began to be distressed and agitated. ³⁴ And he said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.”^{(A) 35} And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.^{(B) 36} He said, “Abba,^[a] Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me, yet not what I want but what you want.”^(C)

The Transfiguration

² Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them,^{(A) 3} and his clothes became dazzling bright, such as no one^[a] on earth could brighten them.^{(B) 4} And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. ⁵ Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us set up three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”^{(C) 6} He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. ⁷ Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved;^[b] listen to him!”^{(D) 8} Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.

The Coming of Elijah

⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. ¹⁰ So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead could mean. ¹¹ Then they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” ¹² He said to them, “Elijah is indeed coming first to restore all things. How then is it written about the Son of Man, that he is to go through many sufferings and be treated with contempt? ¹³ But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written about him.”

³⁷ He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be grieved and agitated.^{(A) 38} Then he said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.”^{(B) 39} And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me, yet not what I want but what you want.”^(C)

The Transfiguration

17 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves.^{(A) 2} And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became bright as light. ³ Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. ⁴ Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I^[a] will set up three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” ⁵ While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, the Beloved;^[b] with him I am well pleased; listen to him!”^{(B) 6} When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.”^{(C) 8} And when they raised their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.

⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”^{(D) 10} And the disciples asked him, “Why, then, do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”^{(E) 11} He replied, “Elijah is indeed coming and will restore all things,^{(F) 12} but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but they did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man is about to suffer at their hands.”^{(G) 13} Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them about John the Baptist.

Peter’s Declaration about Jesus

¹⁸ Once when Jesus^[a] was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”^(A)

⁵¹ When he came to the house, he did not allow anyone to enter with him, except Peter, John, and James and the child’s father and mother.

⁴⁶ After saying farewell to them, he went up on the mountain to pray.