6:49a–b

but: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but here indicates a contrast. The contrast is between what Jesus intended to do (6:48d) and what actually happened.

they cried out: The clause they cried out is a result of 6:49c (“thinking he was a ghost”). It is also a result of 6:50a (“they all saw Him and were terrified”). See the General Comments at the end of the note on 6:50a for other ways to express these relationships.

cried out: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as cried out is the sound someone makes when afraid. Another way to translate this word is “scream.” For example:

and they started screaming (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
they screamed in terror (New Living Translation, 1996 edition)

6:49c

thinking He was a ghost: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as a ghost refers to a phantom. The word is often used when people see a vision or form of a dead person, but his body is not actually there. This Greek word is different from the Greek word that means “spirit.” The disciples probably thought that the spirit of a dead person was appearing to them in a form that they could see. Use the natural term in your language to describe this.

In some languages, it may be more natural to put what the disciples thought into direct speech. For example, the Good News Bible says:

“It’s a ghost!” they thought…

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