Sign in
JOHN 20:22 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
John 20:21John 20:23
“And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:”
When he had said this, he breathed on them and said, 'Receive the Holy Spirit' — Jesus' breathing (emphysaō) recalls God's breath animating Adam (Genesis 2:7), establishing resurrection as new creation. This bestowal of the Holy Spirit (pneuma) differs from Pentecost's subsequent wind and flame; here the risen Jesus directly imparts the Spirit, constituting the disciples as the Spirit-bearing community. The act is intimate (breathing upon them) and immediate, marking resurrection as the source of eschatological empowerment.

Church Fathers on John 20:22

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
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a reflection on this verse
No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!