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21 Then Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you. Just as the Father has sent Me forth, I also am sending you”. 22 And having said this, He breathed-on[a] them. And He says to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they have been forgiven for them. If you retain[b] the sins of any, they have been retained”.

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Footnotes

  1. John 20:22 Or, blew-on. This visibly connects the giving of the Spirit to Jesus.
  2. John 20:23 Or, hold firm; hold fast. On forgiving and retaining sins, compare Mt 16:19; 18:18. Some think that Jesus is giving authority to His ministers to absolve sins; others, that He is giving His authority to all believers to speak regarding God’s response to sin and repentance.

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