Matthew 14:28

28 And Peter answered him [and] said, "Lord, if {it is you}, command me to come to you on the water!"

Matthew 14:28 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 14:28

And Peter answered him and said
Who knew his voice, and was ready to believe it might be Christ; and having more courage, and being more forward than the rest of the disciples, ventured to speak to him; saying,

Lord, if it be thou;
for he was not fully assured that it was he: he might consider that nocturnal apparitions are deceitful, and that Satan can transform himself into an angel of light, and could put on the appearance, and mimic the voice of Christ; wherefore, to try whether it was a spectre, or really Christ, he says,

bid me come unto thee on the water;
thereby expressing great love and affection to Christ, being willing to come to him, though through danger, through storms and tempests; and also his strong faith in him, supposing it to be he; who, he knew, was as able to support his body on the water, as his own; and yet much modesty, submission, and dependence; not willing to take a step without his order.

Matthew 14:28 In-Context

26 But the disciples, [when they] saw him walking on the sea, were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear.

27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Have courage, I am [he]! Do not be afraid!"

28 And Peter answered him [and] said, "Lord, if {it is you}, command me to come to you on the water!"

29 So he said, "Come!" And getting out of the boat, Peter walked on the water and came toward Jesus.

30 But [when he] saw the strong wind, he was afraid. And beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"

Footnotes

• [a]. *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("answered") has been translated as a finite verb
• [b]. Literally "you are" [he]