47 When evening had come, the boat was in the midst of the sea, and he was alone on the land.
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
The ship was in the midst of the sea - See all the parts of this wonderful transaction considered, on Matthew 14:22-33 (note).
And when even was come,.... The second evening, and it was properly night:
the ship was in the midst of the sea; of Galilee, about twenty five or thirty furlongs from the shore; see John 6:19;
and he alone on the land; upon the mountain. This is observed, partly to show what distress the disciples were in, in the midst of the sea, having a hard gale of wind, and their master not with them; and partly to show that there was no way, humanly speaking, of Christ's getting to the ship, in order to go over; and is an illustration of the following miracle, of walking so many furlongs, as he must, upon the water, in a stormy, blustering night, to get to it.
And when even was come--the later evening (see on Mark 6:35). It had come even when the disciples embarked (Matthew 14:23; John 6:16).
the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land--John says (John 6:17), "It was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them." Perhaps they made no great effort to push across at first, having a lingering hope that their Master would yet join them, and so allowed the darkness to come on. "And the sea arose" (adds the beloved disciple, John 6:18), "by reason of a great wind that blew."
*More commentary available at chapter level.