But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”
Parallel translations
- WEB But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Cheer up! It is I! Don’t be afraid.”
- KJV But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not 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.”
- 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 16:33I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have oppression; but cheer up! I have overcome the world.”
- Isa 41:10Don’t you be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.
- Acts 23:11The following night, the Lord stood by him, and said, “Cheer up, Paul, for as you have testified about me at Jerusalem, so you must testify also at Rome.”
- Rev 1:17–18When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. He laid his right hand on me, saying, “Don’t be afraid. I am the first and the last,
- Isa 41:4Who has worked and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I, Yahweh, the first, and with the last, I am he.”
- John 14:1–3“Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me.
- Luke 24:38–39He said to them, “Why are you troubled? Why do doubts arise in your hearts?
- Isa 51:12“I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you, that you are afraid of man who shall die, and of the son of man who will be made as grass?
- John 6:20But he said to them, “It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
- Matt 9:2Behold, they brought to him a man who was paralyzed, lying on a bed. Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, cheer up! Your sins are forgiven you.”
- Matt 17:7Jesus came and touched them and said, “Get up, and don’t be afraid.”
- Luke 1:30The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
- Luke 1:13But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
- Matt 28:10Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Go tell my brothers that they should go into Galilee, and there they will see me.”
- Luke 2:10The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people.
- Isa 41:14Don’t be afraid, you worm Jacob, and you men of Israel. I will help you,” says Yahweh, “and your Redeemer is 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.