Matthew 17:1–13

The Transfiguration

17^*Six days later Jesus took with him Peter and the brothers James and John and led them up a high mountain where they were alone. ^2*As they looked on, a change came over Jesus: his face was shining like the sun, and his clothes were dazzling white. ^3*Then the three disciples saw Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus. ^4*So Peter spoke up and said to Jesus, “Lord, how good it is that we are here! If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

^5*While he was talking, a shining cloud came over them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my own dear Son, with whom I am pleased—listen to him!”

⁶When the disciples heard the voice, they were so terrified that they threw themselves face downwards on the ground. ⁷Jesus came to them and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid!” ⁸So they looked up and saw no one there but Jesus.

⁹As they came down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Don’t tell anyone about this vision you have seen until the Son of Man has been raised from death.”

^10*Then the disciples asked Jesus, “Why do the teachers of the Law say that Elijah has to come first?”

¹¹“Elijah is indeed coming first,” answered Jesus, “and he will get everything ready. ^12*But I tell you that Elijah has already come and people did not recognize him, but treated him just as they pleased. In the same way they will also ill-treat the Son of Man.”

¹³Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.