Matthew 8:23-27

Context

Stilling of a Storm

8:23 As he got into the boat, his disciples followed him.¹ 8:24 And a great storm developed on the sea so that the waves began to swamp the boat. But he was asleep. 8:25 So they came² and woke him up saying, “Lord, save us! We are about to die!” 8:26 But³ he said to them, “Why are you cowardly, you people of little faith?” Then he got up and rebuked⁴ the winds and the sea,⁵ and it was dead calm. 8:27 And the men⁶ were amazed and said,⁷ “What sort of person is this? Even the winds and the sea obey him!”⁸

[8:23] ¹sn A boat that held all the disciples would be of significant size.

[8:25] ²tn The participle προσελθόντες (proselqonte") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

[8:26] ³tn Grk “And.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.

[8:26] ⁴tn Or “commanded” (often with the implication of a threat, L&N 33.331).

[8:26] ⁵sn Who has authority over the seas and winds is discussed in the OT: Ps 104:3; 135:7; 107:23-30. When Jesus rebuked the winds and the sea he was making a statement about who he was.

[8:27] ⁶tn It is difficult to know whether ἄνθρωποι (anqrwpoi) should be translated as “men” or “people” (in a generic sense) here. At issue is whether (1) only the Twelve were with Jesus in the boat, as opposed to other disciples (cf. v. 23), and (2) whether any of those other disciples would have been women. The issue is complicated further by the parallel in Mark (4:35-41), where the author writes (4:36) that other boats accompanied them on this journey.

[8:27] ⁷tn Grk “the men were amazed, saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) has been translated as a finite verb to make the sequence of events clear in English.

[8:27] ⁸sn Jesus’ authority over creation raised a question for the disciples about his identity (What sort of person is this?). This verse shows that the disciples followed Jesus even though they did not know all about him yet.