Matthew 14:28
And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
Original Language Analysis
ἀποκριθεὶς
answered
G611
ἀποκριθεὶς
answered
Strong's:
G611
Word #:
1 of 18
to conclude for oneself, i.e., (by implication) to respond; by hebraism (compare h6030) to begin to speak (where an address is expected)
αὐτῷ
him
G846
αὐτῷ
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
3 of 18
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
4 of 18
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Πέτρος
Peter
G4074
Πέτρος
Peter
Strong's:
G4074
Word #:
5 of 18
a (piece of) rock (larger than g3037); as a name, petrus, an apostle
Κύριε
Lord
G2962
Κύριε
Lord
Strong's:
G2962
Word #:
7 of 18
supreme in authority, i.e., (as noun) controller; by implication, master (as a respectful title)
πρὸς
unto
G4314
πρὸς
unto
Strong's:
G4314
Word #:
13 of 18
a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e., toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e., pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of,
ἐλθεῖν
come
G2064
ἐλθεῖν
come
Strong's:
G2064
Word #:
15 of 18
to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
ἐπὶ
on
G1909
ἐπὶ
on
Strong's:
G1909
Word #:
16 of 18
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of re
Cross References
John 6:68Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.Romans 12:3For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Historical Context
This event occurred during the 'fourth watch of the night' (Matthew 14:25), between 3-6 AM, after Jesus had spent the evening in solitary prayer following the feeding of the five thousand. The Sea of Galilee, approximately 13 miles long and 7 miles wide, was known for sudden violent storms. The disciples had rowed about 3-4 miles (John 6:19), fighting contrary winds for hours. Peter's request came after hours of exhausting labor.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Peter's mixture of faith ('bid me come') and doubt ('if it be thou') mirror your own spiritual journey?
- What drives you to step out in faith-filled risks, and when do you hesitate like Peter's conditional 'if'?
- Why did Jesus honor Peter's imperfect, conditional faith rather than rebuke his presumption in requesting a miracle?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water (κύριε, εἰ σὺ εἶ, κέλευσόν με ἐλθεῖν πρὸς σὲ ἐπὶ τὰ ὕδατα, kyrie, ei su ei, keleuson me elthein pros se epi ta hydata)—Peter's request mingles faith with testing. The conditional 'if it be thou' suggests lingering doubt, yet the request itself demonstrates extraordinary boldness. The word keleuson (command, order) recognizes Christ's absolute authority over natural law.
Peter alone among the Twelve had the audacity to request this miracle. His impulsive faith, though imperfect, moved him to attempt what seemed impossible. This verse captures Peter's character—passionate, impetuous, willing to risk failure rather than miss opportunity. Jesus honors such faith-filled boldness, even when tinged with human weakness.