Passages from the Gospel about Peter and the boat
Below are passages from the Gospel that mention Saint Peter and the boat. Search criteria: “boat” and “Peter.”
Matthew 14:24-33
The first passage mentioned here describes the scene when Jesus walks on water:
24 Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. 25 During the fourth watch of the night,* he came toward them, walking on the sea. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear. 27 At once [Jesus] spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I;* do not be afraid.” 28 Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. 30 j But when he saw how [strong] the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith,* why did you doubt?” 32 After they got into the boat, the wind died down. 33 * k Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.”
– Mt 14:24–33
Luke 5:4–11
After a bountiful catch, Peter acknowledges his sinfulness:
4 After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” 5 Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” 6 When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that they were in danger of sinking. 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” 9 For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, 10 and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” 11 When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything* and followed him.
– Lk 5:4–11
John 21:3–8
Finally, the closing scene of the Gospels, “The Risen Lord Appears Beside the Sea Of Galilee”:
3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We also will come with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.b 4 When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.c 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.”d 6 So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish. 7 So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea. 8 The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish.
– Jn 21:3–8
In each of these passages, Jesus himself solves the problems of the Apostles, which they were unable to deal with on their own.
- Author
- Fr. Tomasz Włodarczyk
- © 2025 Ks. Tomasz Włodarczyk. All rights reserved.
- Picture: Lorenzo Veneziano, Christ Rescuing Peter from Drowning, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
