True Bible Answers

Matthew 16: Across the lake to Caesarea Philippi, and the first word of Jerusalem

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Matthew 15:39ESV

And after sending away the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of .

ESV

Now when Jesus came into the district of , he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

ESV

From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.

Matthew 17:22ESV

As they were gathering in , Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men,

Matthew 15
Matthew 17

The Pharisees and Sadducees ask Jesus for a sign from heaven and are given only the sign of Jonah. The disciples reach the other side of the lake without bread, and he warns them about the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. In the district of Caesarea Philippi Peter says he is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and from that time Jesus begins to show them that he must go to Jerusalem, suffer and be killed, and on the third day be raised.

Map of Matthew 16: Across the lake to Caesarea Philippi, and the first word of Jerusalem — 3 sites plotted

Regions on this map

Verse 5: the lake the disciples cross to the other side, having forgotten the bread.

  • Matthew says only that the disciples "reached the other side" (16:5), the crossing that follows the boat to Magadan at the end of chapter 15. All 500 gazetteer votes go to the Sea of Galilee.

    Today: Sea of Galilee (Lake Kinneret), northern Israel (representative point)

Verse 21: Jerusalem, where Jesus says he must go to suffer and be killed.

  • Named for the first time as where Jesus must go to suffer at the hands of the elders, chief priests and scribes (16:21). No one goes there in this chapter. All 500 gazetteer votes go to Jerusalem.

    Today: Jerusalem, the Old City

Verse 13: Caesarea Philippi, the district where Jesus asks who people say the Son of Man is.

  • The district where Jesus asks his disciples who he is and Peter answers that he is the Christ (16:13-16). Matthew names the district, not the town itself. All 500 gazetteer votes go to Banias, at the foot of Mount Hermon by one of the springs of the Jordan.

    Today: Banias, in the Golan Heights

Matthew 16, verse by verse

  1. Matthew 16:13Now when Jesus came into the district of , he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
  2. Matthew 16:21From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.