Who walked on water with Jesus?
BREAKDOWN
The individual who walked on water with Jesus was Simon Peter, one of His twelve disciples. This remarkable event is primarily recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 14. After Jesus had sent His disciples ahead in a boat across the Sea of Galilee, He went up on the mountain to pray. During the fourth watch of the night, between 3 AM and 6 AM, Jesus came to them, walking on the sea. The disciples were terrified, believing Him to be a ghost, but Jesus reassured them, saying, 'Cheer up! It is I. Don't be afraid.' (Matthew 14:27). Upon hearing Jesus' voice, Peter, with characteristic impulsiveness and zeal, called out, 'Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters.' (Matthew 14:28). Jesus invited him, saying, 'Come!' And Peter, stepping out of the boat, indeed began to walk on the water toward Jesus. However, when he saw the strength of the wind and waves, his faith faltered. He became afraid and began to sink, crying out, 'Lord, save me!' Immediately, Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, 'You of little faith, why did you doubt?' (Matthew 14:31). Once they were back in the boat, the wind ceased, and the disciples worshipped Jesus, acknowledging Him as truly the Son of God. This narrative serves as a profound illustration of the interplay between faith, human doubt, and divine power.
KEY TERMS
Simon Peter
One of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, known for his leadership, impulsiveness, and pivotal role in the early Christian church.
Sea of Galilee
A large freshwater lake in Israel, central to many events in Jesus' ministry, including the calling of several disciples and numerous miracles.
faith faltered
A moment where Peter's trust in Jesus' power weakened, leading him to fear the circumstances (wind and waves) rather than relying on divine intervention.
You of little faith, why did you doubt?
Jesus' tender rebuke to Peter, highlighting the connection between wavering belief and the failure to sustain a miraculous experience or overcome difficulties.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
Matthew 14:22-33
Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and to go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. After he had sent the multitudes away, he went up onto the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, distressed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. In the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came to them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It’s a ghost!” and they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Cheer up! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters.” He said, “Come!” Peter stepped down from the boat, and walked on the waters to come to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was strong, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got up into the boat, the wind ceased. Those who were in the boat came and worshiped him, saying, “You are truly the Son of God!”
Matthew 14:27
But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Cheer up! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
Matthew 14:28
Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters.”
Matthew 14:31
Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
Mark 6:45-52
Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he himself sent the multitude away. After he had taken leave of them, he went up to the mountain to pray. When evening had come, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and he was alone on the land. Seeing them distressed in rowing, for the wind was against them, about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea, and he would have passed by them, but they, when they saw him walking on the sea, supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw him, and were troubled. But he immediately spoke to them, and said to them, “Cheer up! It is I! Don’t be afraid.” He got into the boat with them; and the wind ceased, and they were very greatly amazed, for they hadn’t understood about the loaves, but their heart was hardened.
John 6:15-21
When Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself. When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, and they entered into a boat, and were going over the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not come to them. The sea was stirred up because a great wind blew. When they had rowed about twenty-five or thirty stadia, they saw Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing near to the boat; and they were afraid. But he said to them, “It is I. Don’t be afraid.” They were willing therefore to receive him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.
INTERLINEAR ANALYSIS
Interlinear Greek
Matthew 14:29ORIGINAL LANGUAGE ANALYSIS
περιπατοῦντα
walked
Definitionto walk, go about, live
ὕδατα
water
Definitionwater, springs, flood
πίστις
faith
Definitionfaith, belief, trust, confidence
ἐδίστασας
doubt
Definitionto doubt, waver, hesitate
σῶσον
save
Definitionto save, rescue, deliver, preserve
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
The event of Jesus and Peter walking on water took place on the Sea of Galilee, known in Hebrew as Kinneret (כנרת) and in Greek as Gennesaret or Tiberias. This freshwater lake, approximately 13 miles long and 8 miles wide, was a vital center for fishing and trade during the 1st century CE. Its geographical location, nestled between hills, made it prone to sudden, violent storms, as winds could funnel down the valleys and whip the waters into dangerous waves, creating perilous conditions for small fishing boats. The local economy was heavily reliant on fishing, and the disciples, including Peter, Andrew, James, and John, were seasoned fishermen, accustomed to the risks of the sea. Their terror at seeing Jesus on the water reflects not only superstition (believing Him to be a ghost) but also the profound awareness of the inherent dangers of such a storm on this particular body of water. The ability to control the elements, particularly the sea, was a widely recognized attribute of divine power in both Jewish and Greco-Roman cultures, emphasizing Jesus' unique authority.
THEOLOGICAL INSIGHT
The episode of Peter walking on water is replete with theological significance, serving as a powerful demonstration of both Jesus' divinity and the nature of discipleship. Jesus' ability to walk on the stormy Sea of Galilee, an act that transcends natural laws, unequivocally asserts His sovereign power over creation and His identity as the Son of God, echoing ancient Near Eastern motifs of divine control over chaotic waters (e.g., Psalm 77:19). For Peter, the event underscores the critical role of faith in the Christian walk. His initial step of faith, emboldened by Jesus' command, allowed him to partake in a miracle, yet his subsequent 'doubt' (Greek: 'distazo', meaning to stand in two ways, to waver) when confronted by the physical storm led to his sinking. This narrative illustrates that while faith in Christ empowers believers to accomplish extraordinary things, even a moment of wavering focus on circumstances rather than on the Lord can lead to spiritual peril. Ultimately, Jesus' immediate rescue of Peter affirms His compassion, omnipresence, and unwavering commitment to His followers, even in their moments of weakness.
COMMENTARY SYNTHESIS
Matthew Henry (Christian)
Henry notes that Peter's request to walk on water was a bold act of faith, yet his subsequent fear and sinking demonstrate the weakness of human nature when faith wavers. He emphasizes that Jesus' immediate hand-stretch to save Peter illustrates His readiness to help those who cry out to Him, even in their doubt.
John Calvin (Christian)
Calvin highlights that Peter's walking on water was a 'singular privilege' granted by Christ, showing His power. He interprets Peter's failure as a lesson against presumption and a reminder that true faith rests solely on Christ's power, not on one's own perceived strength or courage.
Augustine of Hippo (Christian)
Augustine famously analogized Peter's walk on water to the Church's journey through the world. He taught that as long as Peter kept his eyes on Christ, he was safe. When he looked at the wind and waves (the worldly troubles), he began to sink. The Church, too, must keep its gaze fixed on Christ amidst life's storms.
Rashi (indirect application) (Jewish)
While Rashi did not comment on New Testament texts directly, the underlying Jewish understanding of God's mastery over the sea (e.g., Exodus 14 at the Red Sea, Psalm 107:23-30) would align with the idea that only the divine can command and walk upon the waters. From a Jewish perspective, such an act would inherently point to a unique divine agency or Messianic authority consistent with ancient prophecy concerning God's power over creation.
Midrash Tehillim (on Psalm 77:19) (Jewish)
Midrashic interpretations of Psalm 77:19 ('Your way was in the sea, your paths in the great waters, and your footprints were not known') emphasize God's mysterious and powerful presence even in the chaotic depths. This resonates with the New Testament account, where Jesus' walking on water demonstrates a divine 'way in the sea,' a manifestation of God's power over the natural order that transcends human understanding.