We have already found some indication in the fourteenth and fifteenth chapters of Matthew that in these crucial sections of the narrative Matthew and Mark rely on different traditions. I now propose to inspect five passages in chapters 14 to 18 of Matthew dealing with Peter which may seem to point in the same direction. Matthew, in telling the same stories as Mark, is able to use material about Peter which, for some reason, is absent from the parallel passages of Mark. Since all these passages are in close proximity to one another, it might seem that an explanation is required. This is particularly true if we accept the ancient view, as I do, that Mark's Gospel is to be connected with Peter's preaching. I shall argue further that the fact that there are five such passages makes them of particular significance; had there been only one or two it would have been easier to claim that the appearance of Peter's name is due merely to the desire of redactors to give heightened verisimilitude to the narrative by adding in personal touches.

Let us now look at the passages in detail:

Mt 14:28 - 31

These lines form part of the story of Jesus walking on the water. Much of the narrative of the story is very close in Matthew and Mark, but it does not occur in Luke; Mark, however, has no reference to Peter at all.