Luke 24:37

But they were startled and terrified, thinking ¹  they saw a ghost. ² 

They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost.

But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit.

But the whole group was terribly frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost!

They thought they were seeing a ghost and were scared half to death.

But they were full of fear, being of the opinion that they were seeing a spirit.

They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost.

But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.

But they were startled and terrified, thinking ¹  they saw a ghost. ² 

¹ sn The disciples were still not comfortable at this point thinking that this could be Jesus raised from the dead. Instead they thought they saw a spirit.

² tc This is not a reference to “a phantom” as read by the Western ms D. For πνεῦμα (pneuma) having the force of “ghost,” or “an independent noncorporeal being, in contrast to a being that can be perceived by the physical senses,” see BDAG 833-34 s.v. πνεῦμα 4.