[Mrs. Don-o]

Yes. But the two swords didn't get used to protect Stephen, or James, or any of the rest of the martyrs--- and their homes and families. There is no further use of the sword for defense in the Gospels or Acts or the Epistles.

Without exception, they did what Christ said: "Put down the sword" and "Take up the cross".

[CynicalBear]

They didn’t get involved or even concern themselves with politics or defending their country either. Nor did any of them any longer establish businesses or be gainfully imployed.

[Elsie]

There is no further use of the sword for defense in the Gospels or Acts or the Epistles.

Plenty of imagery though...

---

Ephesians 6:10-17

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

[boatbums]

Don't you think there is a difference between defending yourself against religious persecution versus against someone intending to steal or murder you and your family? We have guns in our home - hoping we never have to use them - to protect ourselves against bad guys. Any man who won't protect his family is a coward.

The Roman Catholic church used the sword to drive out the Muslim hordes from the Holy Land and to protect Rome from being sacked. Unfortunately, they also used the sword to kill "heretics" or those they believed were "stealing away" the souls of Catholics. Jesus said:

And He said to them, "When I sent you out without money belt and bag and sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?" They said, "No, nothing." And He said to them, "But now, whoever has a money belt is to take it along, likewise also a bag, and whoever has no sword is to sell his coat and buy one. (Luke 22:35-36)

At one time, God told the Jews:

Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare a war; rouse the mighty men! Let all the soldiers draw near, let them come up! Beat your plowshares into swords And your pruning hooks into spears; Let the weak say, "I am a mighty man." (Joel 3:9-10)

But, when Christ rules and reigns on the earth, there will come a time when those swords will be beat back into plows and war will be no more:

He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. (Isaiah 2:4)

I'm looking forward to those days. Amen?