Matthew 17:1-13

New Testament for Everyone

The transfiguration

17 After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and James’s brother John, and led them off up a high mountain by themselves. ² There he was transformed in front of them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. ³ Then, astonishingly, Moses and Elijah appeared to them. They were talking with Jesus.

⁴ Peter just had to say something. “Master,” he said to Jesus, “it’s wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I’ll make three shelters here—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah!”

⁵ While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Then there came a voice out of the cloud. “This is my dear son,” said the voice, “and I’m delighted with him. Pay attention to him.”

⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were scared out of their wits. ⁷ Jesus came up and touched them.

“Get up,” he said, “and don’t be afraid.”

⁸ When they raised their eyes, they saw nobody except Jesus, all by himself.

The question about Elijah

⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them strict instructions. “Don’t tell anyone about the vision,” he said, “until the son of man has been raised from the dead.”

¹⁰ “So why,” asked the disciples, “do the scribes say that ‘Elijah must come first’?”

¹¹ “Elijah does indeed come,” replied Jesus, “and ‘he will restore everything.’ ¹² But let me tell you this: Elijah has already come, and they didn’t recognize him! They did to him whatever they wanted. That’s how the son of man, too, will suffer at their hands.”

¹³ Then the disciples realized that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.