Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 9:18

"And it came to pass, as he was praying apart, the disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Who do the multitudes say that I am?" — Luke 9:18 (ASV)

Regarding this episode, Luke omits a reference to Caesarea Philippi and inserts a reference to Jesus at prayer (v.18). Luke apparently disconnects Peter’s confession from time and space in order to emphasize the link between the miraculous feeding and Jesus’ intimate fellowship with God, as exemplified in his praying. This is one of the insights Luke gives us into Jesus’ prayer life (cf. 3:21; 6:12; 11:1). Jesus asks for the opinion of the “crowds” as to who he is. The responses echo the rumors expressed in vv.7–8.