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Mark 8 · a question people ask

Did Jesus call Peter "Satan"?

In the text

Here is what the verses say. When Jesus "spoke to them openly" of the Son of Man being killed and rising again, "Peter took him and began to rebuke him" (8:31-32). Mark doesn't give Peter's words. Jesus, "turning around and seeing his disciples, rebuked Peter, and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you have in mind not the things of God, but the things of men.”" (8:33). The reason is in Jesus's own words: "you have in mind not the things of God, but the things of men". Matthew gives Peter's words, "Far be it from you, Lord! This will never be done to you." (Matthew 16:22), and Jesus's answer has "You are a stumbling block to me" (Matthew 16:23). After six days "Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John" up a high mountain (9:2).

The verses

“He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He spoke to them openly. Peter took him and began to rebuke him. But he, turning around and seeing his disciples, rebuked Peter, and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you have in mind not the things of God, but the things of men.””
Mark 8:31-33 · World English Bible
“Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This will never be done to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, for you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of men.””
Matthew 16:22-23 · World English Bible
“After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John, and brought them up onto a high mountain privately by themselves, and he was changed into another form in front of them.”
Mark 9:2 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Mark 8

Mark 8: Who do you say that I am?

In Mark, Peter is the first person in the story to call Jesus the Christ (8:29); before that only the book's first verse does. Then Jesus tells them to tell no one, and for the first time teaches them openly that the Son of Man must suffer, be killed, and after three days rise again. Then he calls the crowd too: whoever wants to come after him is to deny himself and take up his cross.

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Last reviewed October 1, 2026. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions