Luke 22:36
“Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Jesus tells them that now they must take purse and bag, and even sell a garment to buy a sword - the times are changing.
What Does Luke 22:36 Mean?
The contrast with verse 35 is deliberate. The sheltered mission days are over; with the Shepherd struck, the flock enters a world of hostility (Zechariah 13:7). Purse, bag, sword - the language of hard travel and danger - signals that they must now reckon with real opposition.
That Jesus did not intend armed revolt becomes clear within hours: he stops the disciples' actual swordplay, heals the victim (verses 50-51), and tells Peter to put up the sword (Matthew 26:52). The command paints the new situation vividly rather than founding a militia: his followers go out into genuine danger, with sober preparation and a Lord who has overcome the world (John 16:33).