But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:

But they seeing him walking upon the sea, thought it was an apparition, and they cried out.

but they, when they saw him walking on the sea, supposed that it was an apparition, and cried out:

And they having seen him walking on the sea, thought it to be an apparition, and cried out,

They saw Him walking on the water, and thinking that it was a spirit they cried out;

But they, when they saw him walking on the sea, took him for a spirit, and gave a loud cry:

but they, when they saw him walking on the sea, supposed that it was a ghost, and began to scream;

But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they thought it was an apparition, and they cried out.

But, when they saw him walking on the water, they thought it was a ghost, and cried out;

They supposed it had been a spirit - That is, by whom the storm had been raised.

But when they saw him walking on the sea,.... See Gill on Matthew 14:26;
they supposed it had been a spirit; a phantom, a spectre, an apparition, a nocturnal demon:
and cried out; as men affrighted at the sight, and fearing they should be hurt by it, or that it portended some evil to them; See Gill on Matthew 14:26.

But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out--"for fear" (Matthew 14:26). He would appear to them at first like a dark moving speck upon the waters; then as a human figure; but in the dark tempestuous sky, and not dreaming that it could be their Lord, they take it for a spirit. Compare Luke 24:37.