Luke 22:31-32

Simon! Simon!— This repetition of the name of Simon, shews much earnestness in our Saviour, and intimates the great danger to which Peter was exposed. Our Lord speaks herein the plural,— υμας; "You, my apostles in general."—That he may sift you as wheat, is an expression denoting the violent agitations, the formidable temptations, and numerous artifices, which the enemy of mankind would make use of to try their integrity. See Amos 9:9. "But, continues our Lord, I have prayed for thee,—Peter, in particular,—foreseeing the danger to which thou wilt be peculiarly exposed; and when thou art returned back to thy duty, [επιστρεψας,] from those wanderings into which I foresee thou wilt fall;—strengthen thy brethren, by setting them an example of eminent faith and fortitude; and do thine utmost through all the remainder of thy days, to engage all, over whom thou hast any influence, steadily to adhere to my cause, in the midst of the greatest difficulties." There can be no objection against taking the charge in this comprehensive sense; and as there can be no question but that Peter, after he had wept his fall so bitterly as we know he did, applied himself to rally his dispersed brethren, and to prevent their fleeing from Jerusalem till the third day was over,—in the morning of which he was up betimes, and early at the sepulchre of our Lord; (See John 20:3.)—so, indeed, the strain of his epistles shews his long and affectionate remembrance of this solemn charge. Many passages of the first are peculiarly intended to animate his Christian brethren to a courageous adherence to Christ amid the greatest dangers; and the second has several cautions to guard them against the seductions of error; in some instances more to be dreaded than the terrors of the severest persecution. See Acts 9:35; Acts 11:2., &c.