{Into the villages of Caesarea Philippi} (eis t(8373) k(936d)as
Kaisari(8373) t(8873) Philippou). Parts (mer(885c))  Mt 16:13  has, the
Caesarea of Philippi in contrast to the one down on the
Mediterranean Sea. Mark means the villages belonging to the
district around Caesarea Philippi. This region is on a spur of
Mount Hermon in Iturea ruled by Herod Philip so that Jesus is
safe from annoyance by Herod Antipas or the Pharisees and
Sadducees. Up here on this mountain slope Jesus will have his
best opportunity to give the disciples special teaching
concerning the crucifixion just a little over six months ahead.
So Jesus asked (ep(8872)(9374)(835c), descriptive imperfect) {Who do men say
that I am?} (Tina me legousin hoi anthr(9370)oi einai;).  Mt 16:13 
has "the Son of Man" in place of "I" here in Mark and in  Lu
9:18 . He often described himself as "the Son of Man." Certainly
here the phrase could not mean merely "a man." They knew the
various popular opinions about Jesus of which Herod Antipas had
heard ( Mr 3:21,31 ). It was time that the disciples reveal how
much they had been influenced by their environment as well as by
the direct instruction of Jesus.