Matthew 16:21 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

From that time forth began Jesus, &c.— Though all the circumstances mentioned in this verse were marks of the Messiah, yet, says a commentator, how little they were understood by the Apostles, or suited to their expectation of the Messiah, appears from the manner in which they were received by Peter, Matthew 16:22. Peter had twice before acknowledged Jesus to be the Messiah, and yet here he cannot bear the thought that he should suffer, and be put to death, and be raised again: whereby we may perceive how little Jesus had at this time explained to the Apostles what personally concerned himself. They had been a good while witnesses of his life and miracles, and thereby being grown into a belief that he was the Messiah, were in some degree prepared to receive the particulars which were to fill up the character, and answer the prophesies concerning him. This from henceforth he began to open to them, though in a way out of which the Jews could not form an accusation; the time of the accomplishment of all, in his sufferings, death, and resurrection, now drawing on, (for this was in the last year of his life,) he being to meet the Jews at Jerusalem but once more at the passover, and then they were to have their will upon him; wherefore he might now begin to be a little more open concerning himself, though yet so as to keep himself out of the reach of any accusation, which might appear just or weighty to the Roman deputy.