[metmom]

Then why did Jesus tell them to buy a sword?

[Mrs. Don-o]

If Jesus thought the two swords were "enough", it's clearly not "enough" for the defense of 12 men!! They were "enough", as He explained, for symbolic purposes, for prophecy to be fulfilled:

Luke 22:36-38

He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. For it is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.”

The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.”

“That’s enough!” he replied.

And if it was for defense, why did Jesus within minutes disarm Peter, when he tried using the sword for defense? Jesus Himself explained it in the above verses: the swords were t fulfill prophecy, that He would be numbered among transgressors.

A few verses later, He disarms Peter.

And He did say "Put down the sword" just as clearly as He said Take up the cross."