I find it interesting that Peter walked on water before he had received the Holy Spirit. This provides a hint on how powerful your faith and beliefs can be.
When Peter walked on the water it happened during Jesus’ earthly ministry, well before Pentecost in Acts 2, when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the disciples in a new, permanent way. Matthew 14:28–31 covers the event of Peter walking on water.
A helpful way to frame it biblically:
Peter acted by faith in Jesus’ spoken word — not yet by Pentecost power
Peter stepped out of the boat because Jesus said, “Come.”
Peter’s ability to walk on water flowed from:
- Faith in Christ’s command
- Christ’s sustaining power
- A moment of obedience
…not from the indwelling Holy Spirit as experienced after Pentecost.
This fits Romans 10:17:
Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Belief is a powerful thing. Peter believed what Jesus said and acted on it.
Notice that “the Lord” Jesus “spoke” and told Peter to “Come” and Peter acted out of obedience to His command.
In the Old Testament and Gospels, in the days before Pentecost, the Holy Spirit would come upon individuals for specific purposes (prophets, kings, disciples), and in some cases some people were “filled” with the Holy Spirit such as Joshua (Numbers 27:18) and Micah in (Micah 3:8).
The permanent indwelling of all “believers in Christ” had not yet begun until Pentecost when the birth of the Church had began in it’s New Covenant form. I am referring to the Church of Jesus Christ.
Jesus explicitly pointed forward to this change:
John 14:17
He dwells with you and will be in you
That “will be” was fulfilled at Pentecost.
May your eyes and your ears be open… and may your heart be open to receive understanding.
Mat 13:16
But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
Mat 13:17
For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
Jesus is speaking to everyone that has eyes to see, ears to hear, a heart to understand
Mat 11:28-30
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.