Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus' repetition of "Peace be with you" isn't just a warm greeting; it's the foundational prerequisite for the profound mission He's about to entrust to them. He's emphasizing that the peace He offers them, a peace only He can give, is the very source from which their own sending out into the world must flow.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just revealed Himself to His disciples after His resurrection, silencing their fear and doubt with His presence and peace. He reiterates His greeting of peace and then commissions them, declaring that just as the Father sent Him on a world-altering mission, He is now sending them out with that same purpose and authority. This declaration sets the stage for their future work as His witnesses and agents in the world.
Jesus doesn't just wish the disciples well; He gives them a specific kind of peace. What is it, and why is it foundational for their new task?
Jesus repeats "Peace be with you" after His resurrection appearance. This isn't just a casual greeting; it's a profound impartation.
A Peace Beyond Understanding
This peace isn't merely the absence of conflict, but a deep, abiding "shalom"—a wholeness and well-being that comes from right relationship with God. It's the "peace of God, which surpasses all understanding" (Philippians 4:7).
The Foundation for Service
This inner peace, rooted in Christ's finished work and His very presence, is the essential starting point for the disciples' mission. Without it, they couldn't effectively proclaim the Gospel or face the opposition they would encounter. It's the very foundation upon which all true ministry is built.
Jesus says, 'As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.' What does this incredible comparison mean for His followers?
Jesus draws a direct parallel between His own divine mission and the mission He is now entrusting to His disciples.
A Shared Divine Authority
Just as the Father sent Jesus with a specific purpose—to reveal God, proclaim truth, offer pardon, and ultimately save humanity—Jesus sends His disciples. They are commissioned with the same authority and carry the same message of reconciliation.
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The Model and the Messenger
Jesus is the ultimate 'apostle' or 'sent one' of the Father. Now, His followers become His 'apostles,' extending His work into the world. Their mission is to be an extension of Christ's own ministry, empowered by the same Spirit He received and now imparts.
Understand the original words
eirēnē · Greek Noun
The Hebrew concept of shalom signifies not merely the absence of war, but wholeness, harmony, prosperity, and total well-being in relationship with God and others. In the New Testament, it represents the reconciliation between God and humanity established through Christ.
apostellō · Greek Verb
In a theological context, this refers to the act of commission or authorization by God. It implies the divine initiative in redemption, where the Sender grants authority and purpose to the one being sent to fulfill a specific mission.
Jesus' commission to his disciples echoes his own mission from the Father, emphasizing a continuity of purpose and authority in proclaiming God's peace and truth to the world.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus is crucified and then resurrected, appearing to his disciples over a period of 40 days.
c. AD 33
The Ascension of Jesus
Jesus ascends to heaven, promising the coming of the Holy Spirit to empower his followers.
c. AD 33
The Day of Pentecost
The Holy Spirit descends upon the disciples, empowering them to preach the Gospel and speak in other tongues.
c. AD 33 - AD 60s
Early Church Expansion
The apostles and early Christians spread the message of Jesus throughout the Roman Empire, facing persecution.
Jesus prays to the Father, 'As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.' This highlights the parallel between the Father's mission of Jesus and Jesus' mission of his disciples, emphasizing a shared purpose and authority.
Matthew 28:19-20This passage contains the Great Commission, where Jesus explicitly commands his disciples to 'go and make disciples of all nations.' It directly parallels the sending described in John 20:21, showing the disciples' mandate to spread the Gospel.
Isaiah 61:1-3This prophecy speaks of the Spirit of the Lord anointing the prophet 'to proclaim good news to the poor' and 'to comfort all who mourn.' Jesus, in Luke 4:18, applies this prophecy to himself, underscoring that his mission, and by extension the disciples' mission, is empowered by the Spirit for healing and restoration.
2 Corinthians 5:18-20Paul describes believers as 'ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us,' tasked with the ministry of reconciliation. This directly reflects the disciples being sent by Jesus, just as the Father sent Him, to carry on His redemptive work.
barnesJohn 20:21: "Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you."
As my Father hath sent me - As God sent me to preach, to be persecuted, and to suffer; to make known his will, and to offer pardon to men, so I send you. This is the design and the extent of the commission of the ministers of the Lord Jesus. He is their model; and they will be successful only as they study his character and imitate his example. This commission he proceeds to confirm by…
vincentJohn 20:21: "Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you."
Hath sent (ἀπέσταλκεν)Note the distinction between this verb and that applied to the sending of the disciples (πέμπω). See on John 1:6.
Jesus' repetition of "Peace be with you" isn't just a warm greeting; it's the foundational prerequisite for the profound mission He's about to entrust to them. He's emphasizing that the peace He offers them, a peace only He can give, is the very source from which their own sending out into the world must flow.
Jesus has just revealed Himself to His disciples after His resurrection, silencing their fear and doubt with His presence and peace. He reiterates His greeting of peace and then commissions them, declaring that just as the Father sent Him on a world-altering mission, He is now sending them out with that same purpose and authority. This declaration sets the stage for their future work as His witnesses and agents in the world.
Jesus has just revealed Himself to His disciples after His resurrection, silencing their fear and doubt with His presence and peace. He reiterates His greeting of peace and then commissions them, declaring that just as the Father sent Him on a world-altering mission, He is now sending them out with that same purpose and authority. This declaration sets the stage for their future work as His witnesses and agents in the world.
"Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”" — Jesus' repetition of "Peace be with you" isn't just a warm greeting; it's the foundational prerequisite for the profound mission He's about to entrust to them. He's emphasizing that the peace He offe…
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Last reviewed October 2026