Luke 24:37

“But startled and terrified, they thought they were seeing a spirit.”

Luke 24:37 · direct translation from the Greek
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Jesus eats fish in front of them to show he is not a spiritThe Resurrection

With the Greek beneath

37

Luke 24:37, word by word

startledπτοηθέντεςptoēthentes

be terrified

Be terrified, startled, frightened.

Where else “ptoēthentes” appears
terrifiedἔμφοβοιemphoboi

terrified

Terrified, full of fear.

Where else “emphoboi” appears
terrifiedγενόμενοιgenomenoi

become

To turn into something new, different from before.

Where else “genomenoi” appears
they thoughtἐδόκουνedokoun

think

To hold something as true in one's mind, rightly or not.

Where else “edokoun” appears
they were seeingθεωρεῖνtheōrein

watch

To observe something closely.

Where else “theōrein” appears
a spiritπνεῦμαpneuma

evil spirit

An invisible being without a body, often evil: a demon.

Where else “pneuma” appears

Parallel passages

Other books that tell the same thing or quote these words.

Jesus appears to the eleven

John 20:19-23Mark 16:14

Mark 16:14 summarizes the appearance; the ending of Mark is not in the oldest manuscripts.

See them side by side

Luke 24:36-43

36And while they were saying these things, he himself stood in the middle of them. 37But startled and terrified, they thought they were seeing a spirit. 38And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do thoughts arise in your heart? 39See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; touch me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Do you have anything to eat here?” 42And they gave him a piece of broiled fish; 43and he took it and ate it before them.

John 20:19-23

19So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors where the disciples were had been locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the middle and says to them, “Peace to you.” 20And having said this, he showed them his hands and his side. So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you.” 22And having said this, he breathed on them and says to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of any, they have been forgiven them; if you retain those of any, they have been retained.”

Mark 16:14

14Later he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen him raised.

The context

36And while they were saying these things, he himself stood in the middle of them.

37 · This verse (above)

38And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do thoughts arise in your heart?

Read all of Luke 24

To study Luke 24 in a group

  1. 1. What it says

    Two disciples walk to Emmaus and do not recognize Jesus. When are their eyes opened, and what had they felt on the road? (vv. 13-32)

  2. 2. What it means

    Jesus explains the Scriptures to them, beginning with Moses and the prophets (vv. 25-27). What does he want them to understand about the Messiah?

  3. 3. How I live it

    The disciples went from sadness to great joy (vv. 17, 52). What gives you hope on a hard day?

How to use it