APPARITION (φάντασμα, G5753, ghost). The appearance of any visitor from the spiritual and supernatural world could be called an apparition. In Biblical context it refers to any appearance of a dead and disembodied person. This is rare, and mostly reflects popular belief. The dead Samuel uniquely appeared to Saul (1 Sam 28:13). The storm-tossed disciples thought Jesus was a ghost (φάντασμα, G5753) when He appeared to them walking on the water (Matt 14:26; Mark 6:49). They feared that He was a spirit or ghost (πνεῦμα, G4460) when He joined their gathering after His Resurrection. But Jesus pointed out that He, unlike a ghost (spirit), had flesh and bones (Luke 24:37, 39). There is no Biblical evidence to support belief in the existence of ghosts as commonly understood.