The time of Jesus appearing in His resurrection body was Sunday evening after 6:00 P.M. This day would become the day of worship for the future church.
The disciples met in secret behind locked doors (Jn 20:26). Luke was not at the meeting and Judas was dead. There was a manhunt out looking for them, so they were hunkered down behind closed doors.
The apostles were with Jesus when He was arrested. They remained in fear of Jewish authorities (Lu 24:37-44). They had crucified Jesus already.
Jesus entered the room. He stood in the middle of the apostles in His human but resurrected body. Although this was the same physical body as during His earthly ministry, it was different in that His body was changed to take on immortality and incorruptibility (1 Co 15:53).
This phrase is the conventional greeting in Israel. The hearts of the apostles needed to be settled because of the traumatic events they faced. It must have been quite a shock to see Jesus standing before them.
Peace comes with occupation with Christ.
Christians can have peace in times of trouble. Fear cripples the Christian life. Those who operate with fear orientation forget about how the sovereignty of God relates to their lives.
The disciples' world changed at the shocking appearance of Jesus in bodily form. Their suppressing fear turned to joy (Jn 16:22). Jesus offered them "peace," a harmony of their soul. He puts together all the discord of our lives as well (Jn 16:33). Circumstance does not have to control our lives. Occupation with Christ can allay the troubled heart (1 Pe 1:6-8).
I once heard a pastor say that this was a church meeting. Isn't this before Pentecost?
JROCK, this event is not Pentecost but a special endowment of the Holy Spirit on the apostles in the interim between the resurrection and ascension. It could not be a church meeting because the church did not begin until Pentecost.