John Calvin Commentary Luke 24:36

"And as they spake these things, he himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace [be] unto you." — Luke 24:36 (ASV)

Jesus himself stood in the midst of them. While the Evangelist John details the same narrative extensively (John 20:19), he differs from Luke in some circumstances. Mark also differs somewhat in his brief statement. Regarding John, since he only gathers what Luke omitted, both accounts can be easily reconciled.

There is no contradiction about the substance of the event, unless someone were to raise a debate about the time. For it is said there that Jesus entered in the evening, while it is evident from the flow of the narrative that he appeared late at night, when the disciples had returned from Emmaus. However, I do not think it right to insist precisely on the hour of the evening. On the contrary, we can easily and properly extend what is said here to a late hour of the night and understand it to mean that Christ came to them after evening, when the apostles had shut the doors and kept themselves concealed within the house. In short, John does not describe the very beginning of the night. He simply means that when the day was past, after sunset, and even in the dead of night, Christ came to the disciples contrary to their expectation.

Still, another question arises here, since Mark and Luke relate that the eleven were assembled when Christ appeared to them, while John says that Thomas was then absent (John 20:24). But there is no absurdity in saying that the number—the eleven—is used here for the apostles themselves, though one of their company was absent. We have recently stated—and the fact makes it clear—that John provides details with greater distinctness, because he intended to relate what the others had omitted.

Besides, it is beyond a doubt that the three Evangelists relate the same narrative, since John expressly says that it was only twice that Christ appeared to his disciples at Jerusalem before they went to Galilee. For he says that he appeared to them the third time at the sea of Tiberias, (John 21:1). He had already described two appearances of our Lord: one which took place on the day after his resurrection (John 20:19), and the other which followed eight days afterwards (John 20:26). However, if anyone were to choose instead to explain the second appearance to be that which is found in the Gospel by Mark, I would not strongly object.

I now return to the words of Luke. Indeed, he does not say that Christ, by his divine power, opened for himself the doors which were shut, (John 20:26); but something like this is indirectly suggested by the phrase he uses, Jesus stood. For how could our Lord suddenly, during the night, stand in the midst of them, if he had not entered in a miraculous manner? The same form of salutation is used by both, Peace be to you; by which the Hebrews mean that they wish happiness and prosperity for the person they address.