And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses ,.... Or Moses and Elias, as all the Oriental versions read, as in Mat_. 17:3; see Gill on Matthew 17:3 , and they were talking with Jesus ; concerning his decease, and what he was to do and suffer at Jerusalem, and of which he himself had lately talked with his disciples; so that this might have been a confirmation of these things to them; See Gill on Matthew 17:3 . read more
And Peter answered and said to Jesus ,.... He addressed himself to him, as being more familiar with him; as also because he was the principal person: wherefore he says, master, it is good for us to be here : the company and conversation were exceeding agreeable to him and his fellow disciples; and the glory that Christ appeared in surpassed every thing they had seen before: and let us make three tabernacles ; or, as the Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions read, "and we will make",... read more
For he wist not what to say ,.... He did not know what he should say, or what was proper to be said by him, at such a time, in such circumstances, and before such persons; for they were sore afraid . The Persic version reads, "he was": and so the Latin translation of the Syriac, though that itself is, "they were"; for all three were filled with consternation at what they saw and heard; so that they were scarcely themselves, and knew not well what they said or did. read more
And there was a cloud that overshadowed them ,.... Jesus, Moses, and Elias, and also the disciples; who, according to Luke, entered into it, and so were covered by it. And a voice came out the cloud, saying, this is my beloved Son, hear him . This was the voice of God the Father, bearing a testimony to the sonship of Christ; and was directed, not to Moses and Elias, but to the disciples, enjoining them to hear and obey him, who was the end of the law and prophets; was the great prophet... read more
And suddenly, when they had looked round about ,.... Upon hearing the voice, to see if they could observe any other object, by whom it was pronounced, and whether the same they had seen continued: they saw no man any more ; neither Moses, nor Elias, not at that time, nor ever after; save Jesus only with themselves : the voice only regarded him, and being directed to them; See Gill on Matthew 17:8 . read more
And as they came down from the mountain ,.... Christ and his three disciples, Peter, James, and John, whom he led up thither: he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen ; on the mount, as the transfiguration of himself, the persons of Moses and Elias, and the bright cloud from whence the voice came, which bore testimony of Christ's sonship: he ordered to keep the whole of this a secret from every man, even from their fellow disciples, till the Son of man... read more
And they kept that saying with themselves ,.... "They retained it in their own mind", as the Persic version renders it; "they kept it close", as Luke says, Luke 9:36 , among themselves, and acquainted no man with it: and which refers either to the whole of Christ's charge, relating to the vision on the mount; or else only to what he said about his resurrection from the dead; and which they took notice of particularly, and laid hold upon, as the word will bear to be rendered; and so the... read more
And they asked him, saying ,.... Being put in mind of it, by seeing Elias on the mount, or else by what Christ had said concerning his resurrection, or both: why say the Scribes , the Vulgate Latin adds, "and Pharisees", that Elias must first come ? before the Messiah comes, or before the setting up his kingdom in greater glory; See Gill on Matthew 17:10 . read more
And he answered, and told them ,.... Allowing that their observation was right, and that this was the sense of the Scribes, and that there was something of truth in it, when rightly understood: Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things : See Gill on Matthew 17:11 ; and how it is written of the son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought . The sense of Christ is, that John the Baptist, whom he means by Elias, comes first, and restores all things: and... read more
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John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Mark 9:3
And his raiment became shining ,.... With the rays of glory and brightness which darted from his body through his clothes, and made them as bright as the light of the sun at noon day: and exceeding white as snow ; than which nothing is whiter; so as no fuller on earth can white them . The Syriac version renders it, "as men cannot white on earth"; and the Persic thus, "so as men could not behold him". Just as the Israelites could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses, because of... read more