Peter's Confession and the Way of the Cross
Luke 9:18-27
Luke.9.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- εγενετο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- ειναι: VERB,pres,act,inf
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- προσευχομενον: VERB,pres,mid,ptc,acc,sg,m
- κατα: PREP
- μονας: ADJ,acc,pl,f
- συνησαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- μαθηται: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- επηρωτησεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- λεγων·Τινα: VERB,pres,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
- με: PRON,acc,sg,1
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- οχλοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- λεγουσιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- ειναι: VERB,pres,act,inf
Parallels
- Mark 8:27-29 (verbal): Parallel account of Jesus asking the disciples who the crowds say he is; closely similar wording and context leading to Peter’s confession.
- Matthew 16:13-16 (verbal): Matthew’s version of the same question to the disciples about popular opinion and Peter’s declaration that Jesus is the Christ.
- Luke 5:16 (thematic): Lukan theme of Jesus withdrawing to pray alone; parallels the phrase that he was ‘alone praying’ in 9:18.
- Luke 9:20 (structural): Immediate structural continuation and climax of 9:18—the disciples’ answer (Peter’s confession) responding to Jesus’ question.
Alternative generated candidates
- And it happened, while he was praying alone, and the disciples were with him, that he asked them, saying, "Who do the crowds say that I am?"
- Now it came to pass, as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him; and he asked them, "Who do the crowds say that I am?"
Luke.9.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- αποκριθεντες: PART,aor,pass,nom,pl,m
- ειπαν·Ιωαννην: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- βαπτιστην: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- αλλοι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- Ηλιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- αλλοι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- οτι: CONJ
- προφητης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- αρχαιων: ADJ,gen,pl,m
- ανεστη: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Mark 8:28 (verbal): Contains the same catalogue of popular identifications—'John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the prophets'—matching Luke's wording and context of popular opinion about Jesus' identity.
- Matthew 16:14 (verbal): Parallel report of the crowds' answers about Jesus' identity ('Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; others, one of the prophets'), closely matching Luke's list (Matthew even adds 'Jeremiah' in some transmissions).
- Mark 6:15 (verbal): An earlier report of popular and Herod's conjecture about Jesus—that he was John raised, Elijah, or a prophet—using very similar language to Luke 9:19.
- Matthew 14:2 (thematic): Herod's statement that Jesus 'is John the Baptist risen from the dead' shows the same strand of popular belief (Jesus as John returned) reflected in Luke's catalog of opinions.
Alternative generated candidates
- They answered, "John the Baptist; and others say Elijah; and others, that one of the old prophets has risen."
- They answered, "John the Baptist; and others say Elijah; and others, that one of the old prophets has risen again."
Luke.9.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- δε: CONJ
- αυτοις·Υμεις: PRON,dat,pl,m + PRON,nom,pl,2
- δε: CONJ
- τινα: PRON,acc,sg,m
- με: PRON,acc,sg,1
- λεγετε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- ειναι: VERB,pres,act,inf
- Πετρος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- αποκριθεις: VERB,aor,pass,ptc,nom,sg,m
- ειπεν·Τον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg + ART,acc,sg,m
- χριστον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Mark 8:29 (verbal): Parallel synoptic account of Jesus' question and Peter's reply; Peter says plainly, “You are the Christ,” a near verbal equivalent of Luke 9:20.
- Matthew 16:16 (verbal): Peter's confession in Matthew is an expanded form—“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”—serving the same narrative function of recognizing Jesus' messianic identity.
- John 6:69 (thematic): In the Johannine context Peter (or the disciples) confesses Jesus' identity—“We have believed and know that you are the Holy One of God”—reflecting the same early-Christian confession of who Jesus is.
- Acts 2:36 (thematic): Peter's later sermon proclaims Jesus to be both Lord and Christ; this develops and publicly applies the earlier confession of Jesus' messianic identity found in Luke 9:20.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he said to them, "But you—who do you say that I am?" And Peter answering said, "The Christ of God."
- And he said to them, "But you—who do you say that I am?" Peter answered, "The Christ of God."
Luke.9.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- επιτιμησας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,sg,m
- αυτοις: PRO,dat,pl,3
- παρηγγειλεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- μηδενι: PRON,dat,sg,n
- λεγειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- τουτο: PRON,nom,sg,n
Parallels
- Mark 8:30 (verbal): Mark records the same command immediately after Peter's confession: Jesus warned them to tell no one that he was the Messiah (near-identical injunction).
- Matthew 16:20 (verbal): Matthew parallels Luke's scene and likewise reports Jesus charging the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.
- Luke 8:56 (structural): After raising Jairus's daughter, Jesus gives a similar order to keep the miracle quiet — same narrative pattern of secrecy following a revelation/act.
- Mark 1:43 (thematic): Following the healing of a leper Mark records Jesus' instruction to say nothing to anyone, reflecting the broader 'messianic secrecy' motif in the Gospels.
- Mark 9:9 (verbal): After the Transfiguration Jesus charges the three disciples not to tell anyone what they had seen until after the Son of Man had risen — another explicit command to silence about a revelatory event.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one.
- And he sternly warned them and commanded them not to tell this to anyone.
Luke.9.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ειπων: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,m,sg
- οτι: CONJ
- Δει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- υιον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- ανθρωπου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- πολλα: ADJ,acc,pl,n
- παθειν: VERB,aor,act,inf
- και: CONJ
- αποδοκιμασθηναι: VERB,aor,pass,inf
- απο: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- πρεσβυτερων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- αρχιερεων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- γραμματεων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- αποκτανθηναι: VERB,aor,pass,inf
- και: CONJ
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- τριτη: ADJ,nom,sg,f
- ημερα: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- εγερθηναι: VERB,aor,pass,inf
Parallels
- Mark 8:31 (verbal): Near-identical prediction that the Son of Man must suffer, be rejected, be killed, and rise after three days — closest Gospel parallel in wording and sequence.
- Matthew 16:21 (verbal): Same prediction in Matthew: Peter rebukes Jesus after this announcement; wording and elements (suffer, be killed, rise on third day) correspond closely.
- Luke 18:31-33 (structural): A later Lukan, expanded prediction of Jesus' suffering, rejection, execution, and resurrection — repeats and develops the themes of 9:22 within Luke's passion narrative.
- Isaiah 53:3-5 (allusion): The Suffering Servant motif — rejection, suffering, bearing of wounds and transgressions — provides the prophetic backdrop to the Son of Man’s foretold suffering and death.
- Psalm 22:16-18 (thematic): Psalmist’s depiction of piercing, mockery, and suffering echoes the passion imagery and communal rejection that Jesus predicts will precede his death and vindication.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised."
- He said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised."
Luke.9.23 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ελεγεν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- δε: CONJ
- προς: PREP
- παντας·Ει: PRON,acc,pl,3
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- θελει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- οπισω: ADV
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- ερχεσθαι: VERB,pres,mp,inf
- αρνησασθω: VERB,aor,mid,imp,3,sg
- εαυτον: PRON,acc,sg,masc,reflex
- και: CONJ
- αρατω: VERB,aor,act,imp,3,sg
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- σταυρον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- καθ᾽ημεραν: ADV
- και: CONJ
- ακολουθειτω: VERB,pres,act,imp,3,sg
- μοι: PRON,dat,sg,1
Parallels
- Mark 8:34 (verbal): Near-verbatim synoptic parallel: calls followers to deny themselves, take up the cross, and follow Jesus.
- Matthew 16:24 (verbal): Synoptic equivalent with almost identical wording: anyone who wants to follow Jesus must deny himself and take up his cross.
- Matthew 10:38 (verbal): Uses the same 'take up his cross and follow me' formula, emphasizing the cost of discipleship and unworthiness of those who refuse.
- Luke 14:27 (verbal): Within Luke's own Gospel a related saying: one must carry his cross and come after Jesus to be his disciple (stresses inability to be a disciple without self‑sacrificial commitment).
- Galatians 2:20 (thematic): Paulic expression of self‑denial and identification with Christ's crucifixion—'I have been crucified with Christ'—echoes the ethic of denying self and living for Christ implicit in taking up the cross.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he said to them all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
- And he said to them all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me."
Luke.9.24 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ος: PRON,nom,sg,m
- γαρ: PART
- αν: PART
- θελη: VERB,pres,act,subj,3,sg
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- ψυχην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- σωσαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- απολεσει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτην·ος: PRON,acc,sg,f
- δ᾽αν: PART,δε+αν
- απολεση: VERB,aor,act,sub,3,sg
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- ψυχην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- ενεκεν: PREP,gen
- εμου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- ουτος: PRON,nom,sg,m
- σωσει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτην: PRON,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- Matthew 16:25 (verbal): Near-verbatim synoptic parallel: the paradox that whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for Jesus' sake will save it.
- Mark 8:35 (verbal): Close verbal parallel in Mark; same paradoxical saying, with Mark specifying 'for my sake and the gospel's,' linking self-loss to mission.
- Matthew 10:39 (verbal): Earlier Matthean occurrence of the saying: 'whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it,' emphasizing the same self-denial motif.
- John 12:25 (thematic): Thematically parallel: contrasts loving/holding on to life with losing/hating life in this world, promising preservation or eternal life—same paradox of losing to gain life.
Alternative generated candidates
- For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
- For whoever would save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
Luke.9.25 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τι: PRON,int,nom,sg,n
- γαρ: PART
- ωφελειται: VERB,pres,mid/pass,ind,3,sg
- ανθρωπος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- κερδησας: VERB,aor,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- κοσμον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- ολον: ADJ,acc,sg,m
- εαυτον: PRON,acc,sg,masc,reflex
- δε: CONJ
- απολεσας: VERB,aor,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- ζημιωθεις: VERB,aor,pass,ptc,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- Mark 8:36 (verbal): Near-identical wording: asks what profit there is in gaining the whole world but losing one's self/soul; a direct Synoptic parallel.
- Matthew 16:26 (verbal): Parallel saying in Matthew with the same rhetorical contrast between worldly gain and loss of the self/soul; differs only in minor wording and addition of exchange imagery.
- Luke 12:15 (thematic): Luke's broader teaching against covetousness and the claim that life does not consist in possessions echoes the warning that worldly gain can cost the true self.
- John 12:25 (thematic): Similar paradoxical teaching: those who love/hold on to their life will lose it, while losing life (or denying it for the sake of Christ) leads to true/eternal life—complements Luke's warning about losing oneself for worldly gain.
Alternative generated candidates
- For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and yet forfeits himself or is ruined?
- For what profit is there for a person to gain the whole world, and forfeit himself?
Luke.9.26 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ος: PRON,nom,sg,m
- γαρ: PART
- αν: PART
- επαισχυνθη: VERB,aor,pass,subj,3,sg
- με: PRON,acc,sg,1
- και: CONJ
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- εμους: PRON,poss,acc,pl,1
- λογους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- τουτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- υιος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- ανθρωπου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- επαισχυνθησεται: VERB,fut,pass,ind,3,sg
- οταν: CONJ
- ελθη: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,sg
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- δοξη: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- πατρος: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- αγιων: ADJ,gen,pl,m
- αγγελων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- Mark 8:38 (verbal): Very close parallel wording: warns that whoever is ashamed of Jesus and his words will find the Son of Man ashamed of them when he comes in glory with the holy angels.
- Luke 12:8-9 (verbal): Same Lukan theme: confessing or denying Jesus before others; the Son of Man will confess or deny people before the angels of God—echoes the shame/acknowledgement motif and reference to angels.
- Matthew 16:27 (verbal): Similar language about the Son of Man coming 'in his Father's glory with his angels'—connects the coming in glory motif and eschatological vindication/judgment.
- Matthew 10:33 (thematic): Parallel theme of public denial/ashaming and its eschatological consequence: whoever denies Jesus before men will be denied before the Father, aligning with Luke's warning about being ashamed of Jesus.
Alternative generated candidates
- For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his own glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
- For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
Luke.9.27 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- λεγω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- δε: CONJ
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- αληθως: ADV
- εισιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,pl
- τινες: PRON,nom,pl,m
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- εστηκοτων: PART,perf,act,gen,pl,m
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- ου: PART,neg
- μη: PART
- γευσωνται: VERB,aor,mid,subj,3,pl
- θανατου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- εως: CONJ
- αν: PART
- ιδωσιν: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,pl
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- βασιλειαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Matthew 16:28 (verbal): Nearly identical saying: Jesus declares some standing there will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God/the Son of Man coming — same wording and promise in the parallel Synoptic tradition.
- Mark 9:1 (verbal): Parallel Synoptic formulation: 'some who are standing here will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power' — same saying with the added detail of the kingdom's coming 'with power.'
- Matthew 17:1-8 (structural): The Transfiguration narrative (also in Mark 9 and Luke 9:28-36) is commonly read as the fulfilment of Jesus' declaration: a select group of disciples visibly behold Jesus’ glory — interpreted as seeing the kingdom of God before death.
- 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 (thematic): Paul's eschatological claim that 'we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed' resonates with the idea that some will not experience death before the parousia/transformation at Christ's coming.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 (thematic): Paul's description of living believers being caught up at the Lord's return addresses the fate of those alive at the parousia and complements Luke's assertion that some will not taste death before seeing the kingdom.
Alternative generated candidates
- But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God."
- But I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.
And it happened, while he was in one of the towns, that he was praying; and the disciples were with him. He asked them, 'Who do the people say that I am?'
They answered, 'John the Baptist; but others say Elijah; and others say that one of the ancient prophets has risen.' And he said to them, 'But you—who do you say that I am?' Peter answering said, 'The Christ of God.' And he strictly charged them and commanded them to tell this to no one,
saying, 'The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised on the third day.' And he said to them all, 'If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.'
For whoever desires to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?
For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his own glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But I tell you the truth: there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.