And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand,.... The Syriac reads it, htevrbw, "and in that very moment"; for his case requires immediate assistance, and Christ readily gave it; he reached out his hand at once, being just by him,and caught him; as he was sinking to the bottom, and lifted him up, and set him on his feet upon the water, and enabled him to walk with him to the ship; but not without reproving him for the weakness of his faith,and said unto him, O thou of little faith: he does not say, O thou unbeliever!
or, O thou who hast no faith! for some faith he had, though but small; of this phrase, See Gill "Mt 6:30".Wherefore didst thou doubt? waver, fluctuate, or wast divided between faith and fear.