Matthew 14:28

28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

Matthew 14:28 in Other Translations

28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

28 And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water."

28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”

28 Peter, suddenly bold, said, "Master, if it's really you, call me to come to you on the water."

28 "Lord, if it's You," Peter answered Him, "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 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.

30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”