Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
Seeing them distressed in rowing (idwn autouv basanizomenouv en tw elaunein). See also Matthew 8:29 for the word basanizw, to torture, torment (Matthew 4:24) with a touch-stone, then to distress as here. Papyri have dia basanwn used on slaves like our third degree for criminals. Elaunein is literally to drive as of ships or chariots. They drove the boat with oars. Common in Xenophon for marching.
About the fourth watch of the night (peri tetarthn fulakhn thv nuktov). That is, between three and six A.M. The wind was
contrary to them (enantiov autoiv), that is in their faces and rowing was difficult, "a great wind" (John 6:18), and as a result the disciples had made little progress. They should have been over long before this.
And he would have passed by them (kai hqelen parelqein autouv). Only in Mark. He wished to pass by them, praeterire eos (Vulgate). Imperfect tense hqelen.
They thought (edocan). A natural conclusion.
And cried out (anekracan).
Cried up, literally, a shriek of terror, or scream.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Mark 6:48:
Matthew 14:24
John 6:19
James 3:4
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