Luke 22:33 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Peter said to him, "Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death."

NIV: But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death."

NASB: But he said to Him, 'Lord, I am ready to go with You both to prison and to death!'

CSB: "Lord," he told him, "I’m ready to go with you both to prison and to death."

NLT: Peter said, 'Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you.'

KJV: And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.

NKJV: But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.”

Jesus is trying to explain to Peter what will happen so Peter will know how to respond. He calls him "Simon" which means "hearing." He wants Peter to hear and understand. Satan is going to try the faith of the disciples. Their faith will waver. But Peter, in the most dramatic example, will return. Then he will help the others renew their own faith (Luke 22:31–32). "Simon" the "hearer" will not listen. "Peter" the "rock" insists that his faith is immoveable. He claims he will never betray Jesus. He would rather go to prison, or even die.

Of course, the "rock" proves to be as steady as sinking sand. It's tempting to look down on his fearful response to being tied to Christ. But that ignores the circumstances which lead Peter to deny Jesus. He starts strong, if foolishly. When Judas leads the temple guards to the Mount of Olives, Peter tries to defend Jesus by drawing his sword. He manages to slice off the ear of one of the high priest's servants. Jesus tells Peter to put his sword away and heals the servant's ear. Then He allows the group to arrest Him (Luke 22:47–54; John 18:10–11).

Even with this setback, Peter follows. John helps him enter the courtyard of the high priest where Jesus is being interrogated (John 18:15–16). That's when Peter likely realizes where he is. He is not merely in the home of a powerful religious leader who seems to have control over Jesus' fate. He's also in an enclosed area surrounded by the company that recently arrested Jesus. Peter is near to a relative of the man he had attacked (John 18:26).

Peter proves he is willing to join an army and follow Jesus into war. He doesn't expect that Jesus will tell him to stop fighting or that Jesus will meekly submit to arrest and beatings. The "rock" tries to be steadfast but finds himself alone in enemy territory wanting to save someone who doesn't want to be rescued.

Years later, Peter goes to prison (Acts 12:1–17), but he does so with a great amount of courage and faithfulness. At one point, he falls asleep the night of his execution; an angel hits him to wake him up (Acts 12:6–7). And, in a twist to Jesus' prophecy (John 21:18–19), church tradition says Peter was crucified upside-down.

Luke 22:31–34 records the last of three stories of how the disciples fail Jesus at the Last Supper. Jesus has already revealed that one of them will betray Him (Luke 22:21–23). The disciples have revealed that their goal in Christ's kingdom is still positions of authority and power (Luke 22:24–30). Now, Jesus says they will abandon Him and Peter will deny Him. But Peter will recover and lead the disciples into restoration and a deeper faith. Jesus' prophecy of Peter's denial is also in Matthew 26:31–35, Mark 14:27–31, and John 13:37–38. Peter's recovery is in Luke 24:34 (cf. Mark 16:7; 1 Corinthians 15:5), John 21:15–19, and Acts 1—5 and 10—11.

Luke 22 is a long chapter which records events leading to Jesus' political trials and crucifixion. He has successfully taught crowds at the temple and proved His authority over the religious leaders (Luke 19:47—20). Meanwhile the leaders have spent the week planning to arrest Jesus and have Him killed (Luke 19:47–48). This chapter records the Last Supper, the arrest on the Mount of Olives, and the trials before the Jewish religious leaders. Matthew 26, Mark 14, and John 18 cover much of the same information.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.