And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
All Commentaries on Matthew 14:26 Go To Matthew 14
Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
The fourth watch of the night marks the end of the night. One watch consists of three hours. This means that at the end of the world the Lord will come to the rescue, and he will be seen walking on the water. Although this ship is tossed by the storms of temptation, it sees the glorified Lord walking upon all the billows of the sea—that is, upon all the powers of this world. For through the voice of his Passion he gave an example of humility according to the flesh. Those waves of the sea to which he willingly submitted for our sake were stilled, in accordance with the prophecy: “I came to the height of the sea, and the storm swallowed me up.”
