“Some others said
That Elijah had appeared.
Others said
That one of the ancient prophets
Had risen.”
ὑπό τινων δὲ ὅτι Ἡλείας ἐφάνη, ἄλλων δὲ ὅτι προφήτης τις τῶν ἀρχαίων ἀνέστη.
Luke said that some people said Jesus was the appearance of Elijah (ὑπό τινων δὲ ὅτι Ἡλείας ἐφάνη). Others said that Jesus was one of the ancient prophets who had risen (ἄλλων δὲ ὅτι προφήτης τις τῶν ἀρχαίων ἀνέστη). There was nothing about this speculation in Matthew. However, Mark, chapter 6:15, had something similar, almost word for word. Some people said that Jesus was Elijah. Still others said that he was a prophet, like the former ancient prophets. Elijah was a 9th century BCE northern Israelite prophet whose work can be found in the Old Testament Books of 1 Kings, 2 Kings, and 1 Chronicles. There was no doubt that the role of Elijah dominated late Jewish thought at the time of Jesus, with his name appearing around John the Baptist, the transfiguration, and the death of Jesus. The prophets were the holy men of Hebrew scripture who brought the word of Yahweh to his people. Who would you compare Jesus to?
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 