Matthew 17:1-13

Living Bible

17 Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John to the top of a high and lonely hill, ² and as they watched, his appearance changed so that his face shone like the sun and his clothing became dazzling white.

³ Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared and were talking with him. ⁴ Peter blurted out, “Sir, it’s wonderful that we can be here! If you want me to, I’ll make three shelters,^[a] one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

⁵ But even as he said it, a bright cloud came over them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, and I am wonderfully pleased with him. Obey him.”^[b]

⁶ At this the disciples fell face downward to the ground, terribly frightened. ⁷ Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” he said, “don’t be afraid.”

⁸ And when they looked, only Jesus was with them.

⁹ As they were going down the mountain, Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone what they had seen until after he had risen from the dead.

¹⁰ His disciples asked, “Why do the Jewish leaders insist Elijah must return before the Messiah comes?”^[c]

¹¹ Jesus replied, “They are right. Elijah must come and set everything in order. ¹² And, in fact, he has already come, but he wasn’t recognized, and was badly mistreated by many. And I, the Messiah,^[d] shall also suffer at their hands.”

¹³ Then the disciples realized he was speaking of John the Baptist.