Matthew 14:26-27
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The disciples' immediate cry, "It is a ghost!", reveals a profound misunderstanding of who Jesus truly is. Even after witnessing His miracles like feeding the thousands, they still couldn't recognize Him in an extraordinary situation, mistaking the divine for the demonic out of fear.
But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus had just miraculously fed thousands and then sent the crowds away. He then sent his disciples ahead across the sea in a boat while he went up a mountain to pray alone. As night fell and the boat was tossed by waves in the middle of the sea, Jesus appeared, walking on the water toward them.
Imagine seeing something impossible in the dark, in a storm. What's your first reaction? For the disciples, it wasn't faith, but pure terror.
Jesus had just fed thousands, a massive miracle. Yet, when he appeared walking on water, their minds immediately jumped to the supernatural—but not in a good way.
Mistaking the Miracle
When fear grips us, we often don't hear clearly. Jesus's first words weren't a rebuke, but an invitation to calm down.
Jesus doesn't leave his terrified disciples in their panic. His immediate response is a powerful, yet gentle, reassurance.
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The Divine Introduction
Understand the original words
phantasma · Greek Noun
A supernatural being or spirit; in this context, it refers to the disciples' perception of a disembodied spirit rather than a physical person.
phobos · Greek Noun
A state of intense agitation or dread caused by the perception of danger, mystery, or the presence of the divine.
tharseō · Greek Verb
An imperative command to be of good courage, confidence, or cheer; often used by Jesus to urge trust in Him over human apprehension.
The disciples' fear and confusion upon seeing Jesus walking on the water stem from their recent experiences and a lack of full understanding of his divine power, despite witnessing the miracle of the loaves and fish just hours before.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Public Ministry in Galilee
Jesus performs miracles and teaches crowds, attracting a large following. His disciples travel with him and witness his power firsthand.
c. AD 27-30
Feeding of the Five Thousand
Jesus miraculously feeds over five thousand people with only five loaves and two fish, demonstrating immense power and compassion. This event immediately precedes the disciples' boat journey.
c. AD 27-30— this verse
Jesus Sends Disciples Across the Sea
Jesus directs his disciples to set sail for Bethsaida while he stays behind to dismiss the crowds and pray alone on a mountain. This sets the stage for the miraculous encounter on the water.
c. AD 27-30
Disciples' Stormy Sea Voyage
The disciples' boat is caught in a fierce storm and rough seas on the Sea of Galilee, causing them great distress and fear as they struggle to row.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus Walks on Water
During the storm, Jesus appears to his disciples, walking on the surface of the water towards their boat, intending to pass them by.
c. AD 27-30
Peter's Faith and Doubt
Peter asks to walk on water to Jesus, and Jesus allows it. However, Peter's fear of the storm causes him to doubt, and he begins to sink until Jesus rescues him.
c. AD 27-30
Calming of the Storm
Upon entering the boat, Jesus calms the wind and waves, and the disciples are overwhelmed with awe and worship him, recognizing his divine identity.
This passage describes God walking on the sea, drawing a conceptual parallel to Jesus' divine ability to tread on the waters, which would have seemed like an impossible 'apparition' to the disciples.
Luke 24:37Here, the disciples also mistake Jesus for a 'spirit' after His resurrection, highlighting a recurring theme of misunderstanding and fear when encountering the divine in unexpected ways.
Isaiah 43:2This prophecy assures protection when passing through water and fire, offering a comforting contrast to the disciples' fear of the water and their terror at seeing Jesus, who is their ultimate protection.
Psalm 107:25This psalm speaks of God raising a stormy wind that causes waves to rise high, only to still them by His word, reflecting the disciples' fear of the storm and their eventual awe when Jesus calms the sea.
calvinMatthew 14:22-33: "And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away."
- And immediately Jesus constrained his disciples to embark, and to go before him to the opposite bank, till he had sent away the multitudes. 23. And when he had sent away the multitudes, he went up into a mountain alone to pray; and when the evening came, he was there alone. 24. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tosse…
bensonMatthew 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 14:26-27 . And when the disciples saw him, they were troubled — “It is well known that it is never entirely dark on the water not to urge that the moon might perhaps now be in the last quarter, as it must have been, if this was about three weeks before the passover.” By that little light, therefore, which they had, the disciples, seeing him, but no…
The disciples' immediate cry, "It is a ghost!", reveals a profound misunderstanding of who Jesus truly is. Even after witnessing His miracles like feeding the thousands, they still couldn't recognize Him in an extraordinary situation, mistaking the divine for the demonic out of fear.
Jesus had just miraculously fed thousands and then sent the crowds away. He then sent his disciples ahead across the sea in a boat while he went up a mountain to pray alone. As night fell and the boat was tossed by waves in the middle of the sea, Jesus appeared, walking on the water toward them.
Jesus had just miraculously fed thousands and then sent the crowds away. He then sent his disciples ahead across the sea in a boat while he went up a mountain to pray alone. As night fell and the boat was tossed by waves in the middle of the sea, Jesus appeared, walking on the water toward them.
"But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”" — The disciples' immediate cry, "It is a ghost!", reveals a profound misunderstanding of who Jesus truly is. Even after witnessing His miracles like feeding the thousands, they still couldn't recognize…
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Last reviewed October 2026
