Spirits of the dead are largely absent from the texts that comprise the New Testament. An exception is the Gospel of Matthew (composed 80—90), which recounts how Jesus walked upon the water of a lake to catch up with the followers, who had gone ahead of him in their boats. When the apostles saw the form of a man that seemed to hover over the water in the early morning light, they thought for certain that it was a spirit of the dead and cried out in fear.
And immediately Jesus ordered the disciples to get into the boat and go on ahead of him across the lake, while he dismissed the crowds. After he had dismissed them, Jesus climbed up the mountain by himself to pray. When night fell, he was alone there. The boat was already a good distance away, tossed by the waves because the wind was against it. Just before dawn, Jesus came to them walking upon the lake. And when the disciples saw him walking upon the lake, they were upset, saying “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. Jesus immediately spoke to them, saying “Have faith, it is I. Do not fear.” And Peter responding to him said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you upon the waters.” And he said, “Come!” And coming down from the boat, Peter walked upon the waters and came to Jesus. But seeing a strong wind, he was afraid, and when he began to sink, he cried out saying “Lord, save me!” Immediately reaching out his hand, Jesus caught him and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they climbed up into the boat, the wind died down. And everyone who was in the boat worshipped him saying “Truly you are the son of God!”