Luke 22:35-38 Meaning
Luke 22:35-38 shifts from a past mission with no needs to a new warning about coming trouble. Jesus tells the disciples to take supplies and even a sword, and the next verses show that this leads into the arrest scene. Early Christian writers quoted this passage and nearby sayings when talking about readiness, hardship, and the meaning of the sword.
113 early-church witnesses · 200 source quotations · compared with Scripture
What does Luke 22:35-38 mean?
Luke 22:35-38 means the disciples are moving into a new and harder stage of ministry. Jesus reminds them that their earlier mission needed nothing, then tells them to be ready for danger and opposition. The line about the sword has been read in more than one way, but the passage clearly prepares the disciples for the arrest scene that follows. Early Christian writers such as Tatian, Tertullian, Cyprian, and Origen quoted nearby sayings to stress readiness, hardship, and the life of faith.
Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Passage context
In Luke 22, Jesus is speaking on the night before his arrest. He recalls the time when he sent the disciples out with no moneybag, knapsack, or sandals, and they lacked nothing. Then he gives new instructions about a moneybag and a sword, and the next verses move toward the arrest and arrest scene in Gethsemane.
Why early Christian sources matter
Early Christian writers show how this passage was read very early in church history. Tatian preserves the verses in the Diatessaron, and writers like Cyprian, Tertullian, and Origen used close sayings about purse, travel, and sword when teaching about readiness and faithful living. Their comments help show that Christians debated whether the sword language was literal or figurative, not just that they quoted the verse.
Common interpretation points
- The biggest question is whether the sword is meant as a literal weapon, a sign of coming danger, or a symbol used in a larger lesson.
- Luke 22:37 is tied to Isaiah language about being numbered with transgressors, which helps explain why the tone changes from earlier mission success to coming suffering.
- Nearby Gospel verses, especially Luke 22:35-49, are important for reading Luke 22:36-38 in context.
Evidence-Based Summary
Luke 22:35-38 first tells the disciples that their earlier mission worked without supplies, then warns that a new, harsher time is coming. Jesus tells them to take a moneybag and a sword, and when they say they have two swords, he answers, “It is enough,” which sets up the arrest scene right after this passage. Early Christian writers clearly used the moneybag and sword language, but they did not all explain the sword the same way, so the interpretation is mixed rather than settled.
Tatian preserves the passage in the Diatessaron, and later writers like Tertullian, Cyprian, and Origen often treated related sayings about purse, travel, and sword as calls to readiness, hardship, or spiritual meaning. The early Christian evidence is strongest on the theme of being prepared for danger and less clear on whether the sword in Luke 22:36 should be read as literal, symbolic, or both.
Key Takeaways
- Luke 22:35-38 prepares the disciples for coming hardship after an earlier mission that lacked nothing.
- The sword saying was read in more than one way by early Christian writers.
- Tatian preserves the passage, and later writers like Tertullian and Cyprian connect nearby sayings to readiness and endurance.
Questions Answered by the Sources
What does Luke 22:35-38 mean?
Jesus is warning the disciples that their mission is entering a harder stage. He recalls the earlier trip where they lacked nothing, then tells them to be ready with supplies and says to buy a sword; the short reply, “It is enough,” closes the exchange and points into the arrest scene that follows.
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Luke 22:35 Direct teaching
And he said to them, “When I sent you out with no moneybag or knapsack or sandals, did you lack anything?” They said, “Nothing.”
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Luke 22:36 Direct teaching
He said to them, “But now let the one who has a moneybag take it, and likewise a knapsack. And let the one who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one.
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Luke 22:38 Direct teaching
And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.
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Luke 22:37 Direct teaching
For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.
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Luke 22:49 Supporting witness
And when those who were around him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?”
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Tatian, The Diatessaron Direct teaching
They said to him, Nothing. Luke 22:36 He said to them, Henceforth, whosoever has a purse, let him take it, and likewise the wallet also: and whosoever has not a sword, shall sell his garment, and buy for himself a 14 sword.
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Tatian, The Diatessaron Direct teaching
12 Luke 22:35 And he said to them, When I sent you without purses, or wallets, and shoes, 13 lacked ye perchance anything?
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Tatian, The Diatessaron Direct teaching
Luke 22:38 His disciples said to him, Our Lord, lo, here are two swords.
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Tatian, The Diatessaron Supporting witness
He spoke a parable because he was nearing Jerusalem, and they supposed that at that time the kingdom of God was about to appear. He said to them, “A man, a son of a great family, went into a far country to receive a kingdom and return. He called his ten servants, gave them ten shares, and said to them, ‘Trade until the time of my coming.’ But the people of his city hated him and sent messengers after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ “When he had received a kingdom and returned, he ordered the servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, so that he might know what each of them had gained by trading. The first came and said, ‘My lord, your share has gained ten shares.’ The king said to him, ‘You good and faithful servant, since you have been found faithful in a little, be set over ten districts.’ The second came and said, ‘My lord, your portion has gained five portions.’ He said to him also, ‘And you shall be set over five districts.’ “Another came and said, ‘My lord, here is your portion, which I kept laid away in a napkin. I feared you, because you are a hard man. You take what you did not leave, and seek what you did not give, and reap what
Did early Christians read the sword in Luke 22 as literal or symbolic?
Early Christian writers did not give one single reading of the sword. Some nearby comments treat sword language as a sign of judgment, readiness, or suffering, while the passage itself is preserved in Tatian’s Diatessaron and linked by later writers to preparation and hardship rather than a simple call to violence.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
The sword here is the judgment; the trumpet is the holy Gospel;
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Hippolytus, Treatise on Christ and Antichrist Supporting witness
... beast. He tells those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast that had the wound by a sword and yet lived. And he had power to give life to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would both speak and cause all who would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. And he caused all people, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their forehead. And no one could buy or sell except the one who had the mark, the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let the one who has understanding count the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is six hundred sixty-six."
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Origen, Commentary on John Supporting witness
...ut Himself. In Isaiah 49:2-3, however, He said that His mouth had been set by His Father as a sharp sword, and that He was hidden under the shadow of His hand, made like a chosen shaft and kept close in the Father's quiver, called His servant by the God of all things, and Israel, and Light of the Gentiles. The mouth of the Son of God is a sharp sword, for Hebrews 4:12 says, "The word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart." And indeed He came not to bring peace on the earth, that is, to bodily and visible things, but a sword. And, if I may say so, He came to cut through the disastrous friendship of soul and body, so that the soul, committing herself to the spirit which was against the flesh, may enter into friendship with God. Therefore, according to the prophetic word, He made His mouth as a sword, as a sharp sword. Can anyone see so many wounded by divine love, like her in the Song of Songs, who complained that she was wounded, "Song of Songs 2:5 I am wounded with love," and find the dart that wounded so many souls f
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Tertullian, Scorpiace Supporting witness
...hild; and children will rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death," He has clearly announced, with reference to the others, this kind of unrighteous conduct, which we do not find shown in the case of the apostles. For none of them experienced a father or a brother as a betrayer, which very many of us have. Then He returns to the apostles: "And you will be hated by all men for my name's sake." How much more will this be true of us, for whom there is the necessity of being handed over even by parents. Thus, by assigning this very betrayal now to the apostles, now to all, He pours out the same destruction on all the possessors of the name, on whom the name will rest together with the condition that it is an object of hatred. "But he who will endure to the end, this man will be saved." By enduring what, if not persecution, betrayal, and death? For to endure to the end is nothing else than to suffer the end. And therefore there immediately follow the words, "The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his own lord." Because, since the Master and Lord Himself stood firm in suffering persecution, betrayal, and death, much more it will be the duty
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Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies Supporting witness
...hat carries the bedding.” Now since those who are about to go on a journey tie their clothes into a bag, so as to be ready for the road, in the same way he wants his disciples to be prepared, since death may come upon them unexpectedly at any moment. In this way Pythagoras sought to make sure that his followers would lack none of the qualities required in his pupils. Therefore, at daybreak he regularly instructed the Pythagoreans to encourage one another to bind up the sack that carries the bedding, that is, to be ready for death. “Do not stir fire with a sword,” meaning, do not quarrel by speaking to an angry man. For a person in a passion is like fire, and the sword is the spoken expression. “Do not trample on a broom,” meaning, do not despise a small matter. “Do not plant a palm tree in a house,” meaning, do not stir up discord in a family, for the palm tree is a symbol of battle and slaughter. “Do not eat from a stool,” meaning, do not take up a low and shameful trade, so that you may not become a slave to the body, which is corruptible, but earn your living from literature. For it is within your reach both to feed the body and to make the soul better. “Do not take a bite ou
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Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Supporting witness
...d of many waters; He had in His right hand seven stars; and out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in His strength.” In these words, He presents part of the glory [He received] from His Father, as indicated by the head; something related to the priestly office, as in the case of the long garment reaching the feet. Moses dressed the high priest this way for this reason. There is also a reference to the end [of all things], like the fine brass glowing in the fire, symbolizing the power of faith and perseverance in prayer, because of the consuming fire coming at the end of time. When John could not bear the sight (for he says, “I fell at his feet as dead,” fulfilling what was written: “No man sees God, and will live”), the Word revived him, reminding him that it was He on whose chest he had leaned at supper, when he asked about His betrayer, declaring: “I am the first and the last, and He who lives, was dead, and behold I am alive forevermore, and hold the keys of death and Hades.” After these things, seeing the same Lord in a second vision, he says: “For I saw in the midst of the throne, and of the four living creatures, and in the mid
Why do Luke 22:35-38 and Luke 10:4 get linked together?
Luke 22:35-38 echoes the earlier sending of the disciples in Luke 10:4 and Luke 9:3, where Jesus told them to travel with no extra supplies. Early Christian writers often used those earlier sayings to teach detachment from wealth, readiness for the road, and care for the poor.
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Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness
Carry not, said the Lord, purse, nor scrip, nor shoes;
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Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness
fill not your own stores, as if laying up produce in a bag, but communicate to those who have need.
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Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness
Luke 10:4 that is, possess not wealth, which is only treasured up in a purse;
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Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (Paedagogus) Supporting witness
... what was best for him. We, then, on our journey to the truth, must also be unencumbered. "Carry no purse, nor bag, nor shoes," the Lord said in Luke 10:4. That means: do not possess wealth, which is kept in a purse. Do not fill your own supplies, as if storing produce in a bag, but share with those in need. And do not concern yourselves with horses and servants, which, because they carry burdens when the rich travel, are allegorically called "shoes."
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Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness
...ing alms, and not depend on earthly possessions, but instead store up heavenly treasures. He says, "Sell your goods, and give alms." Luke 12:33 And again: "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in nor steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21 And when He wished to describe a man as perfect and complete through keeping the law, He said, "If you will be perfect, go and sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come and follow me." Matthew 19:21 Moreover, in another place He says that a merchant of heavenly grace, and one who gains eternal salvation, ought to buy the precious pearl—that is, eternal life—at the price of Christ's blood, using his inheritance, and giving up all his wealth for it. He says: "The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls. And when he found one precious pearl, he went away and sold all that he had, and bought it." Matthew 13:45-46
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
... up plenty of money for themselves, lend at harsh interest, and care only about mammon, whose money bag is their god. They put eating and drinking before all virtue, saying, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die." They value these things as though they were lasting and not perishing. For she who gives herself to nothing but talk about money worships mammon instead of God. That is, she is a servant to gain, but cannot be pleasing to God or devoted to His worship. She is not able to intercede with Him continually, because her mind and disposition run after money. For where the treasure is, there the heart will be also. In her mind she is thinking about where she may go to receive something, or that a certain woman, her friend, has forgotten her, and she has something to say to her. A woman who thinks about such things will no longer pay attention to her prayers, but to that thought which comes to her. So even if at times she would pray for someone, she will not be heard, because she does not offer her petition to the Lord with her whole heart, but with a divided mind. But she who gives attention to God will stay inside and care for the things of the Lord day and night, offeri
More related quotations from this section 3 shown
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Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness
Luke 12:35 We ought to be girt about, lest, when the day of setting forth comes, it should find us burdened and entangled.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
...n the devil himself struck him with love of money. Although he had long been trusted with the money bag, John 12:6, and used to steal what was set apart for the needy, the Lord still did not cast him off, because of His great patience. More than that, when we were once eating with Him, and He wanted both to bring Judas back to his duty and to teach us of His own foreknowledge, He said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me." And when each of us said, "Is it I?" the Lord was silent. I, who was one of the twelve and more beloved by Him than the rest, rose up from lying on His bosom and asked Him to tell me who it would be that would betray Him. Yet even then our good Lord did not say his name, but gave two signs of the betrayer. One was by saying, "He that dips with me in the dish." The second was, "The one to whom I shall give the morsel when I have dipped it." Even though Judas himself said, "Master, is it I?" the Lord did not say, "Yes," but, "You have said it." And because He wanted to frighten him about this matter, He said, "Woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be good for him if he had never been born." When Judas heard that, he went
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Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Background
... from this one. If, then," he continues, "you know the city where you are going to live, why do you buy land here, make costly preparations, and gather houses and useless buildings? The one who makes such preparations for this city cannot return to his own city again. Foolish, unstable, and miserable man! Do you not understand that all these things belong to someone else and are under someone else’s authority? For the lord of this city will say, 'I do not want you to live in my city. Leave this city, because you do not obey my laws.' Therefore, even if you have fields and houses and many other things, when he throws you out, what will you do with your land, your house, and the other possessions you have gathered for yourself? For the lord of this country rightly says to you, 'Either obey my laws or leave my dominion.' So what do you plan to do, when you have a law in your own city, because of your lands and the rest of your possessions? You will completely deny your law and live by the law of this city. Be careful that it does not harm you to deny your law. For if you want to return to your city, you will not be received, because you denied the law of your city, but will be shut
Common Questions
Why did Jesus tell them to buy a sword in Luke 22:36?
Jesus is preparing the disciples for a harder and more dangerous time ahead. The verse can be read as a practical warning, but early Christian writers did not all explain the sword the same way.
What does “It is enough” mean in Luke 22:38?
It ends the discussion and moves the story toward the arrest scene. It does not clearly settle whether the swords are mainly literal or symbolic.
How did early Christians read Luke 22:35-38?
They often linked it with readiness, poverty, travel, and coming suffering. Tatian preserves the passage, while later writers used nearby sayings about purse and sword to teach watchfulness and faithful endurance.
Did early Christians think Luke 22:36 was about a literal sword?
Some readers took it in a practical sense, but the early Christian writings in this set do not give one single explanation.
Why does Jesus say two swords are enough?
The phrase closes the exchange and points the reader toward the events that follow. It does not fully explain the symbolism by itself.
Source Index for Luke 22:35-38
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 160 ranked source links from 200 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 160 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 113
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
Bible Passages 80 shown of 87
Related Bible passages saved for comparison with the early Christian quotations.