And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.

LUKE 9:28KJV
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Luke 9:28 (KJV)

What does Luke 9:28 mean?

Luke 9:28 marks a change from Jesus’ teaching to an event witnessed by three of his followers. About eight days after those sayings, Jesus takes Peter, John, and James up a mountain for prayer.

The narrator identifies prayer as Jesus’ reason for going up. The setting prepares the reader for what happens while he prays: his appearance changes, and the three men see him speaking with Moses and Elijah (Luke 9:29–31).

The Greek behind Luke 9:28

  • “about” — ὡσεί (hōsei): This word carries the sense of “approximately.” Luke presents the eight-day interval as an estimate rather than an exact count.
  • “took” — παραλαμβάνω (paralambanō): The word can mean to take someone along with oneself. It pictures Jesus bringing these three men with him, rather than sending them ahead.

Why Luke 9:28 matters

  • The time phrase links the mountain event to Jesus’ preceding words. “After these sayings” points back to what he had just told his followers, including his call to follow him (Luke 9:23).
  • The three named men are part of a larger group of Jesus’ followers. Luke’s account places Peter, John, and James at the scene as witnesses to what follows.
  • Luke’s “about an eight days” differs in wording from the “six days” in Matthew 17:1 and Mark 9:2. One common explanation is that Luke counts the days at both ends of the interval, while Matthew and Mark count the days between.

Where else these words appear

“eight” Greek G3638 · used in 9 verses

  • Luke 2:21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
  • Luke 13:11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.
  • John 20:26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

“these” Greek G5128 · used in 25 verses

  • Matthew 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
  • Luke 19:15 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
  • Acts 16:36 And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.

“about” Greek G5616 · used in 34 verses

  • Matthew 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
  • Luke 9:14 For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company.
  • Acts 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

“James” Greek G2385 · used in 38 verses

  • Matthew 4:21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
  • Mark 9:2 And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.
  • Luke 9:54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?