Bible Strands
Matthew 14:27
But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus speaks to his disciples in a boat on the sea at night, the moment they have just mistaken him for a ghost and cried out in terror (v. 26). He responds immediately, before their fear can settle.
The words — euthus (εὐθύς) is a flat adverb of time, "at once," marking no delay between their panic and his voice. tharseite (θαρσεῖτε) is a second-person plural imperative: "take courage," a command, not a suggestion.
The thread — The same imperative appears in John 16:33 ("take courage"), Isaiah 41:10 ("do not be afraid"), and Acts 23:11 ("take courage"), each time paired with a statement of divine presence or purpose.
Why it lands — The verse does not explain away the danger; it identifies the speaker ("It is I") and then issues a direct command to stop being afraid. The reader is asked to treat the presence of the speaker as sufficient ground for courage, not their own assessment of the situation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
Cross-references
- John 16:33 I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”
- Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
- Acts 23:11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so also you must testify in Rome.”
- Revelation 1:17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. But He placed His right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last,
- Isaiah 41:4 Who has performed this and carried it out, calling forth the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD—the first and the last—I am He.”
- John 14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe in Me as well.
- Isaiah 51:12 “I, even I, am He who comforts you. Why should you be afraid of mortal man, of a son of man who withers like grass?
- Matthew 9:2 Just then some men brought to Him a paralytic lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.”
- Matthew 17:7 Then Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” He said. “Do not be afraid.”
- Luke 24:38 “Why are you troubled,” Jesus asked, “and why do doubts arise in your hearts?