TRANSLATION MATTHEW 17: 22

When they re-assembled in Galilee, Jesus spoke to them: “The Son of Man will soon be betrayed into the hands of human beings; they will kill him, and on the third day he will be awakened.” This made them very sorrowful.

Matthew wants the reader to see that this is a formal announcement by Jesus: the master and his pupils have re-assembled. The announcement is brief and to the point. Jesus speaks of himself as Son of Man, that is, the bearer of humane rule in the world. At times, Jesus seems to include his pupils as part of this identity; here he speaks of himself. Only he will be betrayed, (literally “handed over”) killed and awakened. Although the Son of Man bears the rule of God, human beings will be able to kill him. The ‘third day’ is a Hebrew idiom for ‘the completion of an event.’ It need not refer to a precise number of days. Although Jesus does not give specific details, his announcement is unequivocal; the pupils have to deal with it. Their great sorrow is emphasised. I have chosen to translate the Greek egeiro as ‘awakened’ rather than ‘raised up’ which is the more usual version.