They answering said, John the Baptist ,.... This was the opinion of some who thought that he was risen from the dead, as in Luke 9:7 . but some say Elias ; the prophet, and the Tishbite; who according to the Jewish notion, was to be the forerunner of the Messiah, so in Luke 7:8 . and others say: that one of the old prophets is risen again ; thus were they divided in their sentiments about him. See Gill on Luke 9:8 read more
He said unto them, but whom say ye that I am ?.... Which was the main thing he had in view in this private conference; and in order to introduce which, he puts the former question: Peter answering : in the name of the rest of the disciples, they assenting to it: said, the Christ of God ; The Persic version reads, "Christ God"; the Messiah, who is the Son of God, and God over all, blessed for ever. The Cambridge copy of Beza's reads, "the Christ, the Son of God". See Gill on Luke... read more
And he strictly charged them, and commanded them ,.... Though he highly approved of this their confession, and pronounced Peter blessed upon it; and signified that it was a discovery which flesh and blood could not make, but what was made to him his Father: yet he gave them a strict charge, and laid his commands on them, to tell no man that thing ; that he was the Messiah, and the eternal Son of God, and the true God, as well as the son of man, and really man: the reasons for this: See... read more
Saying, the son of man must suffer many things ,.... In his person and character, in his soul and body, at the hands of God, and of men, and devils: and be rejected of the elders, and chief priests, and Scribes ; who made up the grand sanhedrim of the nation: by these he was to be, and was rejected as the Messiah; and when put up with another which should be released, that other should be preferred, and he rejected; and which was done at the instigation of these men, who were the... read more
And he said to them all ,.... Not only to all the disciples, but "to the multitude", as the Arabic version renders it, who were now called unto him, with his disciples, as is clear from Mark 8:34 , any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me; the same is said here, as in Matthew 16:24 ; see Gill on Matthew 16:24 , Mark 8:34 , only here the word, "daily", is added; and which, though as Beza observes, is not in the Complutensian... read more
For whosoever will save his life ,.... See Gill on Matthew 16:25 . read more
For what is a man advantaged if he gain the whole world ,.... Or what profit will it be unto him? all the honours, riches, and enjoyments of it will be of no use and service to him if he himself is lost: and lose himself ; or his own soul; for he that loses his soul, which is his better and immortal part, loses himself: or be cast away : finally, and eternally, or "suffer loss" of eternal happiness and glory; that is, perishes, and is destroyed with an everlasting destruction; See... read more
For whosoever shall be ashamed of me ,.... Of my person and offices, of me, as the Messiah, Saviour, and Redeemer, of my grace, righteousness, blood, and sacrifice: and of my words ; of the doctrines of the Gospel, one and another of them. In Mark, it is added, "in this adulterous and sinful generation"; having a peculiar respect to the people of the Jews, and the age in which Christ lived; but is true of any other people and age in which men live: of him shall the son of man be... read more
But I tell you of a truth ,.... And let it be received as such; you may assure yourselves of it, that not only at the last day, the son of man will come in this glorious manner, and show his resentment to all such as have been ashamed of him; but, also there be some standing here, which shall not, taste of death till they see the kingdom of God ; the Gospel dispensation visibly taking place, both among Jews and Gentiles, upon the resurrection of Christ, and the pouring fourth of his... read more
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John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 9:18
And it came to pass, as he was alone praying ,.... To his God and Father, for himself as man, and mediator; for the success of his Gospel, and the increase of his interest; and for his disciples, that they might have a clearer revelation of him; and which they had, as appears in their after confession of him by Peter, as the mouth of them all. The place where he now retired for private devotion, was somewhere in the coasts of Caesarea Philippi; for he was now gone from the desert of... read more