Luke 24:37

But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

But {G1161} they were terrified {G4422} and {G2532} affrighted {G1719}{G1096}, and supposed {G1380} that they had seen {G2334} a spirit {G4151}.

Startled and terrified, they thought they were seeing a ghost.

But they were startled and frightened, thinking they had seen a spirit.

But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they beheld a spirit.

Luke 24:37 KJV describes the immediate, visceral reaction of Jesus' disciples upon His sudden appearance in their midst after His resurrection. This verse highlights their profound astonishment and fear, underscoring the extraordinary nature of the event.

Context

This verse occurs immediately after the two disciples who had walked with Jesus on the road to Emmaus returned to Jerusalem, sharing their incredible experience with the other disciples. While they were still speaking, Jesus Himself suddenly stood among them (Luke 24:36). Despite having heard reports of His resurrection from Mary Magdalene and others, and even having just heard the Emmaus disciples' testimony, His physical presence was so unexpected and overwhelming that their initial response was not joy, but terror and disbelief. They presumed they were seeing a ghost or a spirit, a common belief in that ancient culture regarding apparitions.

Key Themes

  • Human Disbelief and Fear: Even those closest to Jesus struggled to comprehend the reality of His resurrection, resorting to a supernatural explanation of a "spirit" rather than accepting His bodily return. This illustrates the human tendency to fear the unknown and the truly miraculous.
  • The Reality of Jesus' Physical Resurrection: The disciples' mistaken assumption sets the stage for Jesus to provide undeniable proof of His physical, not merely spiritual, resurrection. This fear prompts Jesus to invite them to "handle me, and see" and later to eat food (Luke 24:42-43), powerfully affirming His bodily resurrection.
  • The Overcoming of Fear with Truth: Jesus' subsequent actions and words aim to calm their fears and transform their apprehension into faith and understanding, eventually leading them to great joy.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses two strong words to convey the disciples' reaction: "terrified" (Greek: emphoboi) and "affrighted" (Greek: ekphoboi). Both terms emphasize an intense, sudden fear or panic. Emphoboi suggests being struck with fear, while ekphoboi implies being exceedingly afraid, almost driven out of one's mind by fright. This double emphasis vividly portrays their extreme emotional state upon witnessing what they thought was a spectral apparition. The word "spirit" here is from the Greek pneuma, commonly referring to a ghost or disembodied entity.

Practical Application

Luke 24:37 reminds us that even with substantial evidence, truly grasping profound spiritual truths can be challenging. Our natural human inclination might be to react with fear or skepticism when faced with the extraordinary. This verse encourages us to:

  • Seek Understanding: Like the disciples, we may initially misinterpret divine truth. It's crucial to allow God's Word and the Holy Spirit to clarify our understanding, moving us from fear to faith.
  • Embrace the Full Truth of Christ: The physical resurrection of Jesus is central to Christian faith, proving His victory over death and the grave (1 Corinthians 15:20). This foundational truth should dispel our fears and anchor our hope.
  • Recognize Divine Patience: Jesus did not condemn their fear but patiently offered proof and explanation, demonstrating His grace and understanding towards our human limitations.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 1 Samuel 28:13

    And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.

  • Job 4:14

    Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.

  • Job 4:16

    It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image [was] before mine eyes, [there was] silence, and I heard a voice, [saying],

  • Matthew 14:26

    And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

  • Matthew 14:27

    But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

  • Mark 6:49

    But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:

  • Mark 6:50

    For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.

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