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Response
During one of His post-resurrection appearances to the disciples, Jesus declared to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I am sending you” «Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. », (John 20:21). Then, in the next verse, “He breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit” «And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: », (John 20:22). This is similar to the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19–20 in which Jesus promises, “Surely I am with you always,” and Acts 1:8 in which He proclaims, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.” In John 20:21–22, Jesus is sending the disciples out on a mission, and He is providing them with the power they will need. That power is found in the presence of the Holy Spirit.
The question arises, however, as to why Jesus breathed on the disciples to give them the Holy Spirit in John 20:22 when the disciples would later receive the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:4: “All of them [the disciples] were filled with the Holy Spirit.” Did the disciples need to receive the Holy Spirit twice? If so, why? The Bible does not directly answer this, but there is enough information provided to derive a plausible explanation.
Acts 1:3 records, “After his [Jesus’] suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.” The events recorded in John 20:21–22 occurred during this forty-day period. According to John 20:19, this appearance of Jesus occurred “on the evening of that first day of the week.” This places Jesus’ breathing the Holy Spirit.It occurred when Jesus breathed on the disciples at the very start of the forty-day period between His resurrection and ascension.
Two perspectives exist regarding Jesus’ act of breathing on the disciples in connection to their reception of the Holy Spirit. One perspective suggests that Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit upon the disciples in John 20:22 to empower them until the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:4, when they would permanently receive the Holy Spirit. The temporary filling of the Holy Spirit in John 20:22 was a preparation for the future permanent indwelling. In John 20, the disciples were filled similarly to how Bezalel was filled in Exodus 31:2–3. The reception of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:4, therefore, marked the baptism of the Holy Spirit, leading to the disciples being permanently indwelt by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9;1 Corinthians 12:13).
The alternative viewpoint suggests that Jesus’ breathing on the disciples in John 20:22 did not immediately impart the Holy Spirit; rather, it was a promise—a foreshadowing of the upcoming Pentecost. The Spirit did not descend upon them at that moment, but Jesus assured them that they would soon receive the Holy Spirit and power from on high.
