Luke 24:37 kjv
But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
Luke 24:37 nkjv
But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.
Luke 24:37 niv
They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost.
Luke 24:37 esv
But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit.
Luke 24:37 nlt
But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost!
Luke 24 37 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Luke 24:38 | "Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?" | Jesus addresses their fear and doubt directly |
| John 20:25 | "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger on the print of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will not believe." | Thomas's need for physical proof |
| John 20:27 | "Then he said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not be faithless, but believe.'" | Jesus offers Thomas the same kind of proof |
| Acts 1:3 | "He presented himself alive to them after his passion by many proofs, appearing over forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God." | Jesus offered many proofs of His resurrection |
| 1 Corinthians 15:5-7 | Details appearances to Peter, the twelve, and others. | Multiple post-resurrection appearances are noted |
| Matthew 14:26 | "When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, 'It is a ghost!'" | Similar fear expressed when Jesus walked on water |
| Mark 6:49 | "But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost, and cried out," | Another account of disciples mistaking Him |
| Isaiah 41:10 | "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand." | God's reassurance against fear |
| Psalm 23:4 | "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;" | God's presence dispels fear |
| Matthew 28:18 | "And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.'" | Jesus' authoritative speech confirms His identity |
| Luke 24:39 | "See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see, for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." | Jesus provides tactile evidence |
| John 20:20 | "And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side." | Jesus showed His wounds to other disciples |
| 1 John 1:1 | "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and our hands have touched—" | Emphasis on tangible experience of Jesus |
| 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 | Discusses the nature of the resurrection body. | The resurrection body is physical and real |
| Ephesians 2:15 | "by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace," | Christ's resurrected body is key to reconciliation |
| Colossians 1:22 | "yet now he has reconciled you in his body through death, to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him," | Reconciliation through Christ's physical sacrifice |
| 1 Peter 3:18 | "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit," | The distinction between death and spiritual life |
| Philippians 3:20-21 | "But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body," | Our future resurrection will also be bodily |
| Genesis 3:15 | "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." | First prophecy of the Redeemer who would suffer |
| Romans 8:11 | "If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to mortal bodies through his Spirit dwelling in you." | The Spirit's role in resurrection |
Luke 24 verses
Luke 24 37 Meaning
The disciples were in a state of terror and confusion. They had just witnessed Jesus' resurrection, but they thought they were seeing a ghost. This reaction highlights their initial disbelief and the overwhelming nature of the events. Jesus, seeing their fear, offers physical proof of His presence, demonstrating that He is not a disembodied spirit but a resurrected physical being.
Luke 24 37 Context
This verse occurs in Luke 24, the chapter detailing the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The disciples, including the eleven Apostles, are gathered in Jerusalem. They are a mix of elated and terrified. While Mary Magdalene and others had reported seeing the risen Christ, and Jesus Himself had appeared to two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35), the full implication and reality of His resurrection had not yet fully settled upon the remaining disciples. They were in a state of shock, fear, and disbelief, likely fearing for their own safety given the recent crucifixion and the attention they drew by following Jesus.
Luke 24 37 Word Analysis
- δὲ (de): (de) - a common conjunction, often translated as "but," "and," or "now." It introduces a continuation or a contrasting element to what was previously said. Here, it links the disciples' internal state with Jesus' subsequent action or statement.
- εἶδον (eidon): (eidon) - First person plural, aorist indicative active of ὁράω (horaō), meaning "to see," "to perceive," "to understand." This indicates they saw Him.
- αὐτὸν (auton): (auton) - Accusative masculine singular pronoun, "him." Referring to Jesus.
- πνεῦμα (pneuma): (pneuma) - Neuter singular noun, from which we get "spirit" or "wind." In this context, it specifically means "spirit" or "ghost." It implies a disembodied, ethereal being, lacking physical substance. This was their immediate conclusion based on their shock and past experiences.
- ὡς (hōs): (hōs) - Adverb or conjunction, meaning "as," "like," "as if." It introduces a comparison, indicating they perceived Him as if He were a spirit.
- πνιγόμενοι (pnigomenoi): (pnigomenoi) - First person plural, present passive participle of πνίγω (pnigō), meaning "to suffocate," "to choke," "to be strangled." Here it conveys a sense of overwhelming fear, as if they were being suffocated or seized by terror. Their fear was so intense it was physically affecting them.
- ἐξέπληξεν (exeplēxen): (exeplēxen) - Third person singular, aorist indicative active of ἐκπλήσσω (ekplēssō), meaning "to strike out," "to astound," "to terrify," "to shock." This verb captures the suddenness and intensity of their shock and fear. Something external (seeing Him) caused an intense internal reaction.
Words Group Analysis:
- "αὐτὸν πνεῦμα ὡς" (auton pneuma hōs): (auton pneuma hōs) - "him a spirit as." This phrase succinctly captures their perception. They saw Him, but their minds immediately processed this sighting as "him as a spirit."
- "πνιγόμενοι ἐξέπληξεν" (pnigomenoi exeplēxen): This phrasing emphasizes the active cause of their state. It wasn't just a passive fear, but a powerful reaction ("exeplēxen") that overcame them, causing them to feel choked with fear ("pnigomenoi").
Luke 24 37 Bonus Section
This verse and its context demonstrate the progression of understanding for the early believers. Initially, the disciples were accustomed to Jesus’ physical presence. After His crucifixion, their experience shifts dramatically to hearing reports of resurrection. The encounter in the locked room, as described here and in John 20, serves as a crucial bridge. It bridges the gap between hearing about the resurrection and personally experiencing its tangible reality. The resurrected body is not an illusion or a metaphor; it is real, it is Him, and it bears the marks of His suffering. This physical, yet transformed, body is central to Christian faith, providing an anchor for belief in the face of the seemingly miraculous. It reassures believers that the One who suffered for them is the same One who has conquered death in a real, physical sense.
Luke 24 37 Commentary
The disciples' reaction of thinking Jesus was a ghost is a natural, though incorrect, response to the extraordinary event of a resurrection. It underscores the completely unprecedented nature of what they were witnessing. Their fear is not a sign of a lack of faith, but a very human reaction to the seemingly impossible. Jesus’ immediate response is one of empathy and practical correction. He doesn't rebuke them harshly but directly addresses their perceived fear and internal questioning ("Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?" – Luke 24:38, immediately following). He then offers sensory evidence – sight (his hands and feet) and touch (their ability to touch him) – to prove His corporeal reality, directly countering the ghostly illusion they experienced. This gentle but firm approach helps them move from terror and doubt to understanding and joy. The spiritual and the physical are shown to coexist in the resurrected Christ.