John 6:19

19 having pushed onwards, therefore, about twenty-five or thirty furlongs, they behold Jesus walking on the sea, and coming nigh to the boat, and they were afraid;

John 6:19 Meaning and Commentary

John 6:19

So when they had rowed
For the wind being contrary, they could not make use of their sails, but betook themselves to their oars, and by that means got

about five and twenty, or thirty furlongs;
which were three or four miles, or little more than a league; no further had they got, though they had been rowing from the time it was dark, to the fourth watch, which was after three o'clock in the morning; all this while they had been tossed in the sea;

they saw Jesus walking on the sea;
(See Gill on Matthew 14:25), (See Gill on Matthew 14:26), (See Gill on Matthew 14:29).

And drawing nigh unto the ship;
though Mark says, he "would have passed by them", ( Mark 6:48 ) ; that is, he seemed as if he would, but his intention was to come to them, and save them from perishing, as he did:

and they were afraid;
that he was a spirit, some nocturnal apparition, or demon, in an human form; (See Gill on Matthew 14:26).

John 6:19 In-Context

17 and having entered into the boat, they were going over the sea to Capernaum, and darkness had already come, and Jesus had not come unto them,

18 the sea also -- a great wind blowing -- was being raised,

19 having pushed onwards, therefore, about twenty-five or thirty furlongs, they behold Jesus walking on the sea, and coming nigh to the boat, and they were afraid;

20 and he saith to them, `I am [he], be not afraid;'

21 they were willing then to receive him into the boat, and immediately the boat came unto the land to which they were going.