Mark 8:27 Meaning and Explanation
“And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →On the road to the villages of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asks his disciples who people say he is.
What Does Mark 8:27 Mean?
Jesus leads the Twelve far north to the villages near Caesarea Philippi, a region crowded with shrines to pagan gods and temples honoring Caesar. Out on the road, surrounded by the monuments of rival lords, he raises the question his whole ministry has been pressing: whom do men say that I am?
He begins with the safer question, the one about public opinion, before turning it personal in verse twenty-nine. The setting gives the question its edge: every claim to power and worship stands in stone nearby, and against them all Jesus asks who he is. This conversation is the hinge of the Gospel of Mark — everything before it builds toward the answer, and everything after it explains the cost.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mark 8:27
What does Mark 8:27 mean?
On the road to the villages of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asks his disciples who people say he is.