Background of the Transfiguration

After Jesus had done many miracles in the Galilee region he went into the surrounding territories and over to the cities of Tyre and Sidon along the coast. He also journeyed over to the cities of the Decapolis and finally up to Caesarea Philippi in the far north near Mount Hermon. He then asked his disciples who they thought he was and as they were guessing Peter said "Thou art the Christ (Messiah) son of the living God. Around six days after Jesus revealed to his disciples that he was "The Christ, the son of the living God" he took Peter, James, and John up into a high mountain to pray and was transfigured before them. They were heavy with sleep but when they woke up they saw His face shining like the sun, and his garments white as snow. They also saw Moses and Elijah talking with him and they became filled with fear, and as the two men were parting from them Peter spoke, "Master it is good for us to be here, let us make 3 tabernacles, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." As he was speaking a bright cloud overshadowed them and a voice spoke out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him." When the disciples heard this they were terrified and fell on their faces, and Jesus came and touched them and the vision went away and they saw only Jesus. As they were coming down from the mountain Jesus said to them, "Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.