Here’s my thought on the link you shared, without having done an in depth study on this pericope myself.
The fact that Peter actually did have a sword kind of precludes the notion that Jesus wanted them to have knives for food preparation. One can assume that this was one of the swords the disciples presented that were enough for Jesus, though maybe that assumption is a little bold.Peter was obviously carrying a sword in a way that was easily drawn for defense. If Jesus had a problem with that, why did he wait until Peter had injured someone with it to say something?
On the word used for sword: if the Greek word used for sword could mean knife or dirk as well, even if that word is in all passages that mention a sword, what does that change? When I carry a knife for self defense, the same set of rules come with it as come with my gun. The real issue here is not guns, but is self defense a biblical thing. If Peter was carrying a knife or dirk instead of a sword, that changes nothing about what happened, the circumstances, or what Jesus said about it.
Here’s my take, again just my interpretation without having done an in depth study
eter was trying to prevent Jesus’s arrest, something Jesus obviously knew had to be done. Because of the circumstances this does not qualify as a self defense situation to me, especially as Jesus was planning on going without a fight. If that is the case, his rebuke to Peter is not so much about self defense, but that the coming revolution that Jesus was about to start would not be with swords. Salvation is not obtained through any kind of violent means, but only through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Peter was trying to prevent that from happening, I think that’s why Jesus rebuked him.
Another point to mention is that no one’s life was in immediate danger, though it was soon to be. The soldiers were arresting Jesus, not yet beating him or crucifying him. This would equate to someone shooting a police officer arresting their friend and calling it self defense. That shouldn’t fly in anyone’s book.
Just a few thoughts, again without a serious in depth study, so if I’m way off base someone please let me know, but this makes a lot of sense to me.