Well, I'm Jewish, not Christian. The Talmud certainly lays out the protection of the right of self defense, referencing Exodus 22:3, in saying that you have every right to defend yourself against someone that intends to harm you. No real mincing words in "If someone comes to kill you, rise up and kill him
The die by the sword likely referred to RIGHT AT THAT MOMENT and that if Peter stood and fought the Temple Guards he and maybe more of the disciples would have been killed. It was likely NOT a "for all time forward admonition against lethal force".
Considering Jewish history it puzzles me how they are not the most self defense minded populous on the planet. Outside of the boarders of modern Isreal; Jews have a terrible track record of self defense. After being chased from their homes into a desert, having been decimated by the Romans, persecuted throughout the middle ages, disarmed and exterminated by the millions during the Holocaust... they still have among the lowest rate of arms ownership across the world, even in the US.
Levitical law says that if someone breaks into your house at night and you killed them, you are not to blame. But, if you kill someone who breaks into your house during daylight you are to blame. Now all you have to do is figure that one out.
Peter was actually the shortest man in the bible, he slept on his watch.
Rebekah was the first to smoke. When she saw Isaac she lit off her camel.
Well played...and appreciated.
You never heard about the Disciples younger sister? It's true, when Jesus first came upon them, the Bible says "Jesus came upon fishermen, casting Annette into the water"
Cars must have been huge back then. It says that David and 30 of his mighty men were all in one accord...