Read What Is Said, Not What We Think It Says
All too often, we can read into the scriptures things which they do not say. For example, in John 21v21-23, the disciples of Jesus misunderstood his words, assuming he had said something which he did not say.
John 21v21
Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? 22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. 23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
In the same way numerous people misread John 20v22.
Jesus Breathed on Them
John 20v19
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. 20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. 21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
Note: Breathed on them, them is in italics in the King James translation, meaning that the word is not in the original Greek. More accurately, this reads “breathed in“.
People assume that Jesus imparted the Holy Spirit to the disciples, whereas, nowhere in this section of scripture does it actually record that any of the disciples received the Holy Spirit at that time, it just tells us that Jesus had told them to receive the Holy Spirit.
This is John’s account of the event. Let’s now compare this with Luke’s account:
Luke 24v49
And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
and again in Acts:
Acts 1v4
And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5* For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
So, we see that in Luke’s accounts in his gospel and in the Acts, that Jesus was telling or commanding them to receive the Holy Spirit, not there and then, but on the day of Pentecost.
Let’s go back to John’s account:
John 20v19
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. 20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. 21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
We see in verse 24, that Thomas was not present at this event.
In verse 25, the disciples tell Thomas that they have seen the Lord, there is no mention here that they also received the Holy Spirit.
If the disciples had received the Holy Spirit at this time, and we will see in a moment that they did not, then Thomas had missed out on a very important experience of receiving the Holy Spirit, because we see that in verse 27, Jesus did not breath on Thomas and Jesus did not mention the Holy Spirit in this verse.
That fact is that neither the disciples nor anyone else could receive the Holy Spirit at this time. Why is this?
John 14v17
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Whilst Jesus was upon the earth, the Holy Spirit was with the disciples but not yet in them.
They could not receive the Holy Spirit until Jesus was glorified.
John 7v37
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
Jesus was glorified when he was exalted to the right hand of God.
Acts 2v33
Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
Jesus had also told the disciples that the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, John 14v26, will not come to them while he is present upon the earth. In John 16v7, Jesus used the words, go away, depart, and send, which all clearly imply that he would not be present. Please be reminded that there is one Spirit, Ephesians 4v4.
John 16v7
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
The Holy Spirit Could Not Be Given To The Disciples Until Jesus Was At God’s Right Hand
Hebrews 9v11
But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us
24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
Note: The scriptures above show us that Jesus, (the High Priest) obtained eternal redemption, (salvation), for us when he entered into the holy place (heaven itself, at God’s right hand) and not before. On the cross His role as the Lamb of God was finished, (the price for sin was paid), but then as high priest it was necessary for Him to enter into the holy place (heaven) to secure salvation for us. It was therefore, whilst in heaven, that Jesus received from the the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, shed forth upon the believers on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 2v33).
Acts 2v33
Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
Don’t cling to misinterpretations of scripture, simple follow God’s command:
Acts 2v37
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
Jesus Christ - God's Answer 