They wanted to make a good impression and appear to be doing more than they actually were.
فَقَدْ أَرَادَا أَنْ يُعْطِيَا ٱنْطِبَاعًا جَيِّدًا عَنْ أَنْفُسِهِمَا وَأَنْ يُظْهِرَا أَنَّهُمَا يَفْعَلَانِ أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا فَعَلَاهُ فِي ٱلْوَاقِعِ .‏