But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
Parallel translations
- WEB But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Cheer up! It is I! Don’t be afraid.”
- BSB But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”
- NKJV But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
- NASB But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”
- NLT But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”
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
Jesus immediately reassures them, 'Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.' His presence and word dispel fear.
Overview
Jesus quickly speaks to calm the frightened disciples, declaring 'It is I,' words that echo God's own self-revelation. His command not to fear rests on His comforting presence and divine identity. The verse assures believers that Christ meets His people in their terror with words of grace and the steadying truth of who He is.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- John 16:33These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
- Isa 41:10Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
- Acts 23:11And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
- Rev 1:17–18And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
- Isa 41:4Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he.
- John 14:1–3Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
- Luke 24:38–39And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
- Isa 51:12I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;
- John 6:20But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.
- Matt 9:2And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
- Matt 17:7And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.
- Luke 1:30And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
- Luke 1:13But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
- Matt 28:10Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
- Luke 2:10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
- Isa 41:14Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 14:27 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.