Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 9:21

"But he charged them, and commanded [them] to tell this to no man;" — Luke 9:21 (ASV)

The command not to tell others (cf. comment on 8:51–56) probably stems from two circumstances: (1) the Jewish people, chafing under the domination of Rome, were all too ready to join a messianic revolutionary; and (2) there was apparently an understanding that one should not claim messiahship for himself but should first do the works of the Messiah and then be acclaimed as such by others .