<P> He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm . He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" They were terrified and asked each other, </P> <P> Author Michael Keene commented that the Sea of Galilee was known for its sudden and fierce storms and that the Jews were people of the land who were generally uncomfortable at sea, especially since they believed the sea to be full of frightening creatures . The Pulpit Commentary attributes these sudden storms to winds arising on the summits of Mount Hermon, in the Anti-Lebanon mountains to the north . </P> <P> The disciples were probably in a small, open fishing boat when they encountered this great storm . The original Greek word for the storm is "seismos," which literally means "a shaking," and which is the term used to get the English word "seismic ." Thus, "seismos" implies that the violence of the storm shook the water in the lake and created waves that covered the boat, which started foundering . </P> <P> The Anglican clergyman John Clowes commented that by asking the question "Why are you so afraid?", Jesus was asking his disciples to explore in their own minds the cause and origin of fear, so they would realize that all fear has its roots in natural affection and thought, separate from spiritual affection and thought . And by asking "Do you still have no faith?" Jesus was manifestly pointing to a defect in their spiritual principles . Clowes further commented that by that last question Jesus was manifestly instructing his disciples, and through them all future generations of mankind, that fear is the constant result of the weakness of Heavenly principles in the human mind . </P>

While crossing over galilee a storm it was raging