Where in the Bible did Peter walk on the sea?

The miraculous event of Peter walking on water is recorded in three of the four Gospels: Matthew 14:22-33, Mark 6:45-52, and John 6:16-21. The most detailed account appears in Matthew's Gospel, which provides the fullest narrative of Peter's bold attempt to join Jesus on the stormy waters of the Sea of Galilee.

The Setting and Context

This extraordinary miracle occurred after Jesus had fed the five thousand, one of His most well-known miracles. Jesus had sent His disciples ahead of Him across the Sea of Galilee while He went up on a mountainside to pray alone. The disciples found themselves battling against strong winds and rough waters during the night, making little progress in their journey across the lake.

Peter's Moment of Faith

According to Matthew's account, when the disciples saw Jesus walking toward them on the water in the early hours of the morning, they were initially terrified, thinking they were seeing a ghost. Jesus immediately reassured them, saying "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." It was then that Peter, in a moment of remarkable faith and boldness, called out to Jesus: "Lord, if it's you, tell me to come to you on the water." Jesus simply replied, "Come."

The Walk and the Doubt

Peter stepped out of the boat and began walking on the water toward Jesus. For a brief, miraculous moment, he defied the laws of nature through his faith. However, when Peter noticed the strong wind and the churning waves around him, fear crept in and his faith wavered. As doubt replaced faith, Peter began to sink and cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus immediately reached out and caught him, gently rebuking him with the words, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"

The Significance of the Miracle

This account serves as a powerful illustration of faith, doubt, and Jesus's divine nature. Peter's initial success in walking on water demonstrates the power of faith, while his sinking reminds us of human frailty when we take our eyes off Jesus and focus on our circumstances. The miracle also affirmed Jesus's identity as the Son of God to His disciples, who worshiped Him saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

The story of Peter walking on water remains one of the most memorable and instructive miracles in the New Testament, found primarily in Matthew 14, with supporting accounts in Mark 6 and John 6.