Matthew 17:3

Matthew 17:3. And behold. The second stage of the miraculous occurrence.

There appeared unto them. These persons were really present. It was not a vision, as is plain from the account of Luke.

Moses and Elijah. The two chief representatives of the Old Testament (the law and the prophets). Both were forerunners of the Messiah, and had also fasted forty days. They came from the invisible world, appearing ‘in glory'(Luke 9:31), in a glorified form. They were recognized by the disciples, probably by intuition.

Talking with him. ‘Of his decease which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem' (Luke). Even on the mount of transfiguration the cross is in the foreground, and these Old Testament saints were probably then instructed in regard to it. The appearance of these two persons has been connected by some with the manner of their departure from earth. But this point cannot be pressed. Mark's account seems to give a certain prominence to Elijah (‘Elijah with Moses').