“And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, quiet! Be still! Then the wind died down and it was completely calm — the rebuke of the wind is the same word (epitimaō) used for rebuking the demon in Mark 1:25. Jesus addresses the wind and the sea as personal forces — the same authority exercised over the demonic realm is exercised over the natural realm. The command quiet! Be still! (siōpa, pephimōso) is literally be silent, be muzzled — the muzzling command of 1:25 applied to the forces of chaos. The response is immediate and total: the wind died down and it was completely calm. The sea that was nearly swamping the boat is instantly, completely still.