Peace is next in the list of fruits of the Spirit. Eirene (eye-rain-ay) in Greek. Webster's describes peace as a state of tranquility, and describes tranquility the state of being free from agitation of mind or spirit. From "The Complete Word Study Dictionary" we find this: Characteristic of the New Testament is the view of peace as the present possession of the believer. So, what does all of that mean in real life? As long as you are being led by the Spirit, you have an unlimited source of peace. The Bible tells us that this peace goes beyond all of our understanding. I've been racking my brain trying to think of some example of this, and the only thing that really illustrates it fully is the way that many martyrs have died for the faith. Polycarp, the bishop or pastor of the church at Smyrna, one of the seven churches of Asia found in the book of Revelation, faced his death this way. The following is an excerpt from "Foxe's Book of Martyrs":
"The proconsul then urged him, saying, 'Swear, and I will release thee;--reproach Christ.'
Polycarp answered, 'Eighty and six years have I served him, and he never once wronged me; how then shall I blaspheme my King, Who hath saved me?' At the stake to which he was only tied, but not nailed as usual, as he assured them he should stand immovable, the flames, on their kindling the fagots, encircled his body, like an arch, without touching him;"
How does a man meet his death at perfect peace? It is the very peace that passes all understanding. Polycarp, an example to us all, was only one of countless martyrs, who died because they would not renounce Christ. How else could a man be so undaunted by his own execution, if not for the divine peace given to him by the Holy Spirit? Many unbelievers seeing these saints meet death with such peace were forever changed by the peace that they saw; because many of them became believers, and some became believers knowing that they would immediately meet the same fate. It is the peace that comes from knowing God. II Timothy 1:12
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