Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 8:27

"And Jesus went forth, and his disciples, into the villages of Caesarea Philippi: and on the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Who do men say that I am?" — Mark 8:27 (ASV)

The first half of Mark’s gospel mounts to a climax with the story of the disciples’ recognition of Jesus’ messiahship at Caesarea Philippi (at the foot of Mount Hermon). Jesus inquired of the disciples who people said he was, not simply to get information, but as preliminary to his second, more important question.