SEV Biblia, Chapter 20:22
Y como hubo dicho esto, les sopló, y les dijo: Tomad el Espíritu Santo:
Clarke's Bible Commentary - John 20:22
Verse 22. He breathed on them] Intimating, by this, that they were to be made new men, in order to be properly qualified for the work to which he had called them; for in this breathing he evidently alluded to the first creation of man, when God breathed into him the breath of lives, and he became a living soul: the breath or Spirit of God ( µyhla jwr ruach Elohim) being the grand principle and cause of his spiritual and Divine life. Receive ye the Holy Ghost] From this act of our Lord, the influences of the Holy Spirit on the souls of men have been termed his inspiration; from in, into, and spiro, I breathe. Every word of Christ which is received in the heart by faith comes accompanied by this Divine breathing; and, without this, there is neither light nor life. Just as Adam was before God breathed the quickening spirit into him, so is every human soul till it receives this inspiration. Nothing is seen, known, discerned, or felt of God, but through this. To every private Christian this is essentially requisite; and no man ever did or ever can preach the Gospel of God, so as to convince and convert sinners, without it. "There are many (says pious Quesnel) who extol the dignity of the apostolic mission, and compare that of bishops and pastors with that of Christ; but with what shame and fear ought they to be filled, if they do but compare the life and deportment of Christ with the lives and conversation of those who glory in being made partakers of his mission. They may depend on it that, if sent at all, they are only sent on the same conditions, and for the same end, namely-to preach the truth, and to establish the kingdom of God, by opposing the corruption of the world; and by acting and suffering to the end, for the advancement of the glory of God. That person is no other than a monster in the Church who, by his sacred office, should be a dispenser of the Spirit, and who, by the corruption of his own heart, and by a disorderly, worldly, voluptuous, and scandalous life, is, at the same time, a member and instrument of the devil."
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 22. And when he had said this , etc.] That is, declared he sent them forth in like manner as his Father sent him: he breathed on them ; in allusion to God’s breathing the breath of life into man, at his creation; or rather, to the Spirit himself, who is the breath of God, and proceeds from him, as from the Father; and who breathes both upon persons in regeneration, and in qualifying for ministerial service, at the instance and influence of Christ: and such an opinion the Jews have of the Spirit of the Messiah, who say f790 , that “the Spirit went from between the wings of the cherubim, hybçnw , “and breathed upon him” (Menasseh) by the decree, or order of the word of the Lord.” And saith unto them, receive ye the Holy Ghost ; meaning not the grace of the Holy Ghost in regeneration, which they had received already; but the gifts of the Spirit, to qualify them for the work he now sent them to do, and which were not now actually bestowed; but this breathing on them, and the words that attended it, were a symbol, pledge, and confirmation, of what they were to receive on the day of Pentecost: hence it appears, that it is the Spirit of God, who, by his gifts and grace, makes and qualifies men to be ministers of the Gospel; and our Lord by this action, and these words, gives a very considerable proof of his deity: the Papists show their impudence and wickedness, in imitating Christ by their insufflations, or breathing on men; pretending thereby to convey the Holy Spirit to them.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 19-25 - This was the first day of the week, and this day is afterwards ofte mentioned by the sacred writers; for it was evidently set apart as the Christian sabbath, in remembrance of Christ's resurrection. The disciples had shut the doors for fear of the Jews; and when they had n such expectation, Jesus himself came and stood in the midst of them having miraculously, though silently, opened the doors. It is a comfor to Christ's disciples, when their assemblies can only be held i private, that no doors can shut out Christ's presence. When He manifests his love to believers by the comforts of his Spirit, he assures them that because he lives, they shall live also. A sight of Christ will gladden the heart of a disciple at any time; and the mor we see of Jesus, the more we shall rejoice. He said, Receive ye the Holy Ghost, thus showing that their spiritual life, as well as all their ability for their work, would be derived from him, and depende upon him. Every word of Christ which is received in the heart by faith comes accompanied by this Divine breathing; and without this there is neither light nor life. Nothing is seen, known, discerned, or felt of God, but through this. After this, Christ directed the apostles to declare the only method by which sin would be forgiven. This power di not exist at all in the apostles as a power to give judgment, but onl as a power to declare the character of those whom God would accept of reject in the day of judgment. They have clearly laid down the mark whereby a child of God may be discerned and be distinguished from false professor; and according to what they have declared shall ever case be decided in the day of judgment. When we assemble in Christ' name, especially on his holy day, he will meet with us, and speak peac to us. The disciples of Christ should endeavour to build up one anothe in their most holy faith, both by repeating what they have heard to those that were absent, and by making known what they have experienced Thomas limited the Holy One of Israel, when he would be convinced by his own method or not at all. He might justly have been left in his unbelief, after rejecting such abundant proofs. The fears and sorrow of the disciples are often lengthened, to punish their negligence.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ τουτο 5124 D-ASN ειπων 2036 5631 V-2AAP-NSM ενεφυσησεν 1720 5656 V-AAI-3S και 2532 CONJ λεγει 3004 5719 V-PAI-3S αυτοις 846 P-DPM λαβετε 2983 5628 V-2AAM-2P πνευμα 4151 N-ASN αγιον 40 A-ASN
Vincent's NT Word Studies
22. Breathed on them (enefushsen). Only here in the New Testament. The act was symbolic, after the manner of the Hebrew prophets. Compare Ezek. xxxvii. 5.The Holy Ghost. The article is wanting. The gift bestowed was not that of the personal Holy Spirit, but rather an earnest of that gift; an effusion of the Spirit.
