John 20:19. Came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
This was the most common form of salutation among the Hebrews, and is often referred to in the Scriptures. In the history of Joseph it is said that “when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.” Genesis 37:4. That is, they refused to give him the ordinary salutation of the day, “Peace be unto you.” See also Judges 19:20; 1 Samuel 25:6; Matthew 10:12-13. These salutations of peace were often merely ceremonial, having in them no real hearty meaning; but Jesus informed his disciples that when he uttered the word “Peace.” it was something more than a mere conformity to a worldly custom: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you” (John 14:27).