Acts 14:19-28 / John 14:27-31
The word “peace” is a word that is mentioned often and we may know what it generally means.
It may be generally understood as the absence of conflict.
It may also be understood as calm and stillness.
But it may be helpful to understand what peace means in the Bible.
The Hebrew word “shalom” may be translated as peace.
Shalom has a few meanings: wholeness, completeness, sound health, safety, and prosperity.
To greet another person with the word “shalom” or “peace” signifies a blessing of total well-being.
In the gospel, Jesus said to His disciples:
Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you, a peace the world cannot give, this is my gift to you.
The disciples of the early Church understood and experienced that gift of peace from Jesus.
Paul and Barnabas experienced stoning and persecution, but they went on with the peace of Jesus in their hearts.
They put fresh hearts into the other disciples, encouraging them to persevere in the faith.
They faced many hardships, but they had the peace of Jesus in their hearts.
We too have that peace of Jesus in our hearts.
Let us also share the peace of Jesus with others.
The world cannot give us that peace that Jesus has given us.