Matthew 17:1-13 - The Transfiguration

¹ After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. ² And he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. ³ And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.

⁴ And Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make here three tabernaclesone for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

⁵ While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him!"

⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces, and were filled with awe.

⁷ But Jesus came and touched them and said, "Rise. Don't be afraid." ⁸ And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. ⁹ And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead."

¹⁰ And the disciples asked him, "Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"

¹¹ Jesus replied, "Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. ¹² But I tell you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. So also the Son of Man is about to suffer at their hands." ¹³ Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.

² After six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, ³ and his clothes became dazzling, exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth could bleach them. ⁴ And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.

⁵ And Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. And let us make three tabernaclesone for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." ⁶ For he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid.

⁷ And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him!"

⁸ Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.

⁹ And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. ¹⁰ So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant.

¹¹ And they asked him, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"

¹² Then he said to them, "Elijah does come first and restores all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man, that he must suffer many things and be treated with contempt? ¹³ But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him."

²⁸ Now about eight days after these sayings, he took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. ²⁹ And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his robe became white and glistening. ³⁰ And behold, two men talked with him, Moses and Elijah, ³¹ who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

³² But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. ³³ As the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah"not knowing what he said.

³⁴ While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. ³⁵ And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!"

³⁶ When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. But they kept quiet, and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen.