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JOHN 20:19 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
John 20:18John 20:20
Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the disciples' house were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you' — the locked doors (thyrai kleismenai) suggest resurrection body's non-dependence on physical barriers; Jesus passes through to the gathered disciples. The phrase 'fear of the Jews' (phobeō...ton Ioudaion) reflects post-70 CE ecclesial anxiety. Jesus' greeting ('Shalom,' peace) is not mere salutation but the gift of eschatological shalom, conferring the Holy Spirit's peace promised in the farewell discourse.

Church Fathers on John 20:19

The disciples, when they heard what Mary told them, were obliged either to disbelieve, or, if they believed, to grieve that He did not count them worthy to have the sight of Him. He did not let them however pass a whole day in such reflections, but in the midst of their longing trembling desires to see Him, presented Himself to them: Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews.

Chrysostom · 4th century

Wherein is strewn the infirmity of the Apostles. They assembled with doors shut, through that same fear of the Jews, which had before scattered them: Came Jesus, and stood in the midst. He came in the evening, because they would be the most afraid at that time.

Bede · 8th century

and with shut doors, that he might show how that in the very same way he had risen again, i.e. with the stone lying on the sepulcher.

Theophylact · 11th century · Or because He waited till all were assembled
Read all 26 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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