And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying,
Whom say the people that I am?
All Commentaries on Luke 9:18 Go To Luke 9
John Chrysostom
AD 407
Timely also was our Lord's command that no one should tell that He was Christ, in order that when offenses should be taken away and the sufferings of the cross completed, aproper opinion of Him might be firmly rooted in the minds of the hearers. For that which has once taken root and afterwards been torn up, when fresh planted will scarcely ever be preserved. But that which when once planted continues undisturbed, grows up securely. For if Peter was offended merely by what he heard, what would be the feelings of those many who, after they had heard that He was the Son of God, saw Him crucified, and spit upon?