| 26. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the nominative subject hoi de mathētai {οἱ δὲ μαθηταὶ | hoí dè mathētai} ‘but the disciples’, where the conjunction de signals a transition in the narrative. The circumstantial participle idóntes autón {ἰδόντες αὐτόν | idóntes autón} ‘having seen Him’ establishes the temporal background, expanded by the prepositional phrase epí tês thalássēs peripatoûnta {ἐπί τῆς θαλάσσης περιπατοῦντα | epí tês thalássēs peripatoûnta} ‘walking on the sea’, which describes the manner of Jesus’ appearance. The main verb etaráchthēsan {ἐταράχθησαν | etaráchthēsan} ‘they were troubled’ conveys the disciples’ inner disturbance, followed by the participle légontes hóti {λέγοντες ὅτι | légontes hóti} ‘saying that’ introducing their interpretation clause phántasma estin {Φάντασμά ἐστιν | phántasma estin} ‘It is a ghost.’ The coordinating clause kaí apó toû phóbou ékraxan {καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ φόβου ἔκραξαν | kaí apó toû phóbou ékraxan} indicates cause—fear—as the motivation for their loud outcry, with the aorist ékraxan giving a sudden, forceful shout. |