Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John by themselves up a high mountain. No one else went with them. There, in front of the three disciples, Jesus’ appearance changed.
His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than any launderer on earth could make them. The prophet Elijah and Moses, who had led the Israelites, appeared and spoke with Jesus.
Peter told Jesus that it was good for them to be there and offered to put up three shelters, one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. He did not know what to say, because the disciples were terrified.
A cloud came and covered them. From the cloud came a voice that called Jesus the beloved Son and commanded them to listen to him.
When they looked around, they saw no one but Jesus. As they came down the mountain, Jesus told them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
They kept the matter to themselves and discussed what rising from the dead might mean. They asked why the scribes, who knew the law, said Elijah must come first. Jesus said that Elijah came first to restore all things and asked how Scripture spoke of the Son of Man suffering and being despised. He said that Elijah had come and people had done to him whatever they wished, as Scripture had said.