Matthew 8:23-27
Jesus Calms the Storm
23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.
27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”
Acts 4:1-22
Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin
1 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.
5 The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is
“‘the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the cornerstone.’
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16 “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”
18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.
St. Matthew writes about Jesus telling His disciples about how little faith they have when He is in a small boat with them and a storm is aging all around them...The disciples, including John and Peter, thought they were going to drown...They ask Jesus to save them...If they had faith in their Master they would know that they are His sheep and He is their/our Shepherd and He will protect them...But at this time in their lives, they do not have that much faith in Him...
But faith does not have to be a static thing...Faith can grow...The more the disciples were around Jesus and followed His teachings the more their faith would grow...When St. Luke writes about the disciples in the Acts of the Apostles...We see that St. John and St. Peter's faith have grown tremendously...In the Acts John and Peter are brought before the Sanhedrin...The two were teaching everyday near the temple to the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead...Their faith has grown from only a little faith to a much greater faith...The two are seized and taken before the Sanhedrin...The two are now before the Sanhedrin and are filled with the Holy Spirit...They are no longer of little faith...St. Peter tells the Sanhedrin that in the name of Jesus he healed a cripple...Jesus was raised from the dead...Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we will be saved...The Sanhedrin saw the courage of St. Peter and St. John and knew they were uneducated, ordinary men, and fishermen...The Sanhedrin were astonished and took note that these men had been with Jesus and know much about Him...Their faith has grown because of their increasing knowledge of what they know about Jesus...
There faith was not static and has grown into a little faith into great faith...Had they been in the boat (again) with Jesus, after they left the Sanhedrin, and was in a great storm on the sea they would be different...They would not be worried about drowning...They know now by their faith that Jesus would save them...
We must learn from the disciples...St. Peter today, if he were here would tell us the same thing that he told the people in front of the temple...Jesus has resurrected from the dead...He is alive...Let us believe St. Peter, and follow the LORD, study Him and the Bible, and have fellowship in Him, and grow our faith like he and St. John have done...