Mark 8:27-30

²⁷ Now Jesus and His disciples went out to the towns of Caesarea Philippi; and on the road He asked His disciples, saying to them, “Who do men say that I am?”

²⁸ So they answered, “John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.”

²⁹ He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.”

³⁰ Then He strictly warned them that they should tell no one about Him.

Also found in Matthew 16:13-20 and Luke 9:18-21.

towns (v.27) — Mark has “a village.” Matthew has mere “region.” Apparently they did not enter the city itself. Jesus seems to have avoided the towns in which the Herodian passion for ambitious architecture was displayed. Besides at this time He desired solitude. … Here Jesus was safe from annoyance by Herod Antipas and the Pharisees and Sadducees. Here He is to prepare His disciples for His coming crucifixion just a little over six months ahead. — Wuest, page 165.

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Caesarea Philippi (v.27) — Herod Philip was tetrarch in this territory. Compared to his half brothers Archelaus and Antipas, Philip was a just ruler. He had no reason to be suspicious of Jesus as Antipas was. Jesus probably remained with His disciples in this region where the inhabitants were predominantly Gentile and where little occasion would arise for Jewish opposition or large crowds. — Thomas, page 115.

Caesarea Philippi was the northernmost town that the Lord visited. It was north and a little bit east of the Sea of Galilee.

asked (v.27) = kept on asking

said (v.29) = kept on saying. Mark used a person pronoun for emphasis — “He Himself kept questioning.” “You” is used for contrast — “As for you, in contradistinction to others, who are you saying that I am?”

Peter did not hesitate. In answer to the question, “Who say ye? Is your judgment like the world’s?” He does not reply, “We believe, we say,” but with all the vigour of a mind at rest, “Thou art the Christ;” that is not even a subject of discussion; the fact is so. — Chadwich, page 218.

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Again [v.29], Mark uses a pronoun for emphasis. it is, “As for you, you are the Christ.” … It is the judgment of the present writer that the translation here should be “Messiah,” the transliteration of the Hebrew word meaning “the Anointed One.” It has a definite content of meaning with reference to Israel which the word “Christ” does not have to the English reader. In Psalm 2:2, the kings of the earth are said to take counsel against the Lord and His anointed, the word “anointed” here being Messiah” in the original. The word designates that King whom God will provide for Israel, who will occupy the throne of David forever. Thus Peter was confessing the fact that he believed that Jesus of Nazareth was that coming King. — Wuest, page 166

Christ (v.29) = lit. “Anointed One,” the Messiah