Matthew 8:23

23 And he went on board ship and his disciples followed him;

Matthew 8:23 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 8:23

And when he was entered into a ship
Which was got ready by his disciples, or hired by them for his use, according to the directions he had given,

his disciples followed him
into the ship, and they only; for as for the men hereafter mentioned, they were the men that belonged to the ship, and had the management of it: the multitude were dismissed, and in order to be clear of them, Christ took this method; and being desirous also of trying the faith of his disciples, he ordered it so, that they should be alone with him.

Matthew 8:23 In-Context

21 But another of his disciples said to him, Lord, suffer me first to go away and bury my father.
22 But Jesus said to him, Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.
23 And he went on board ship and his disciples followed him;
24 and behold, [the water] became very agitated on the sea, so that the ship was covered by the waves; but *he* slept.
25 And the disciples came and awoke him, saying, Lord save: we perish.
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.