When He had said this, He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
Jesus breathes on them and tells them to receive the Holy Spirit, marking the gift with his own breath there.
His breath marks the giving of the Spirit to the gathered disciples that evening there.
19It was the first day of the week, and that very evening, while the disciples were together with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them. “Peace be with you!” He said to them. 20After He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. 21Again Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, so also I am sending you.” 22When He had said this, He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.”