Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 14:26-27
Matthew 14:26-27. And when the disciples saw him, they were troubled “It is well known that it is never entirely dark on the water not to urge that the moon might perhaps now be in the last quarter, as it must have been, if this was about three weeks before the passover.” By that little light, therefore, which they had, the disciples, seeing him, but not perfectly discerning who he was, were much terrified: saying, It is a spirit, Οτι φαντασμα εστι , It is an apparition: for they justly... read more
Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 14:25
Matthew 14:25. And in the fourth watch of the night The Jews, as well as the Romans, usually divided the night into four watches of three hours each. The first watch began at six, the second at nine, the third at twelve, the fourth at three. During these many tedious and distressing hours of storm and tempest, of darkness and danger, Jesus saw his disciples, though they saw not him: he beheld their perplexity and fear, while they were conflicting with the winds and waves, and observed how ... read more