But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost!
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.
- BSB But they were startled and frightened, thinking 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.
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 troubled, saying, “It’s a ghost!” and they cried out for fear.
- Job 4:14–16fear came on me, and trembling, which made all my bones shake.
- 1 Sam 28:13The king said to her, “Don’t be afraid! What do you see?” The woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.”
- Mark 6:49–50but they, when they saw him walking on the sea, supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out;
- Acts 12:15They said to her, “You are crazy!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.”
- Luke 16:30“He said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if one goes 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.