Bible Strands
Mark 8:28
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus questions His disciples near Caesarea Philippi about public opinion regarding His identity, prompting their report before He shifts the inquiry to their personal confession.
The words — The Greek εἶπαν (eipan) translates as “they said,” recording the disciples’ direct reply, while αὐτῷ (autō) means “to Him,” specifying Jesus as the recipient of their report.
The thread — This public speculation echoes the denial in John 1:21, the prophetic expectation in Malachi 4:5, and the Herodian rumor in Matthew 14:2.
Why it lands — The verse demands a reader to move from reporting cultural guesses to answering Jesus’ direct question about personal conviction.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.
Cross-references
- John 1:21 “Then who are you?” they inquired. “Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.”
- Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD.
- Matthew 14:2 and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”
- Mark 9:11 And they asked Jesus, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
- Matthew 16:14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
- Mark 6:14 Now King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known, and people were saying, “John the Baptist has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”
- Luke 9:7 When Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, he was perplexed. For some were saying that John had risen from the dead,