Luke 9:8

9:8 while others were saying that Elijah ¹  had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had risen. ² 

Luke 21:5

The Signs of the End of the Age

21:5 Now ³  while some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned ⁴  with beautiful stones and offerings, ⁵  Jesus ⁶  said,

[9:8]  ¹ sn The appearance of Elijah would mean that the end time had come. According to 2 Kgs 2:11, Elijah was still alive. In Mal 4:5 it is said that Elijah would be the precursor of Messiah.

[9:8]  ² sn The phrase had risen could be understood to mean “had been resurrected,” but this is only a possible option, not a necessary one, since the phrase could merely mean that a figure had appeared on the scene who mirrored an earlier historical figure. The three options of vv. 7-8 will be repeated in v. 19.

[21:5]  ³ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.

[21:5]  ⁴ sn The Jerusalem temple was widely admired around the world. See Josephus, Ant. 15.11 (15.380-425); J. W. 5.5 (5.184-227) and Tacitus, History 5.8, who called it “immensely opulent.” Josephus compared it to a beautiful snowcapped mountain.

[21:5]  ⁵ tn For the translation of ἀνάθημα (anaqhma) as “offering” see L&N 53.18.

[21:5]  ⁶ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.