Why did Jesus tell his disciples to buy swords? Why did Jesus tell his disciples to buy swords? Was he suggesting they be warriors like the ancient Israelites?


  “But now,” he said, “take your money and a traveler’s bag. And if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one! (Luke 22:36, NLT)
In the following verse Jesus mentions another prophecy to be fulfilled:


  Luke 22:37: 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.


A transgressor is, by definition:


  One who transgresses; one who breaks a law, or violates a command; one who violates any known rule or principle of rectitude; a sinner


Now here is where it becomes more a matter of opinion:

It is clear that, at least in our current day case, that interfering with the law is in fact a crime. Here we have two illustrations of that - first, the Apostles with Jesus are not yet saved since Jesus had not yet been crucified, so they were still sinners - and transgressors of the Law passed down by Moses from God. Second, they were interfering in Jesus' arrest and Peter attacked a guard. So that makes then transgressors of the law as by man.

So we see here a fulfillment of the prophecy Jesus mentioned in verse 37, as both spiritually and man-made sense the Apostles would be transgressors.