Luke 9:1-50 is clearly distinguished from the previous context on the basis of its portrayal of discipleship and concern for Jesus’ identity. The question of Jesus’ identity reaches the circles of Herod (Luke 9,7-9) while Peter professes his faith in Jesus, the Messiah of God (Luke 9,18-21).
Luke 9 begins to develop the disciples of Jesus less as companions and more as characters in their own right within the larger narrative of Luke-Acts. Thus, the themes of Christology and discipleship are closely intertwined, for they are mutually interpretative. One cannot become disciple of Jesus with full rights unless one perceives faithfully the nature of Jesus’ person and work and vice versa. One cannot understand Jesus’ work and person unless he becomes his genuine disciple. This section ends the itinerant ministry of Jesus in Galilee in order to begin the account of his journey to Jerusalem. Consequently, the unit is considered as a transitional which concludes the ministry in Galilee and sets the stage for the next major part of his public ministry.