But they were startled and frightened, thinking they had seen a spirit.
Parallel translations
- WEB But they were terrified and filled with fear, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
- KJV But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
- NKJV But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.
- NASB But they were startled and frightened, and thought that they were looking at a spirit.
- NLT But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost!
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The disciples are terrified, thinking they see a ghost. Their fear shows they did not naively expect a resurrection but had to be convinced.
Overview
Far from credulous, the disciples react with terror, supposing they behold a spirit. Their fright underscores that resurrection faith did not arise from gullibility or expectation. Luke records their doubt honestly, strengthening the credibility of the bodily resurrection Jesus is about to demonstrate.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Matt 14:26–27When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and cried out in fear.
- Job 4:14–16fear and trembling came over me and made all my bones shudder.
- 1 Sam 28:13“Do not be afraid,” the king replied. “What do you see?” “I see a god coming up out of the earth,” the woman answered.
- Mark 6:49–50but when they saw Him walking on the sea, they cried out, thinking He was a ghost—
- Acts 12:15“You are out of your mind,” they told her. But when she kept insisting it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.”
- Luke 16:30‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone is sent to them from the dead, they will repent.’
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 24:37 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.