In Luke 22:31-32, what is the significance of ὑμᾶς?

Question

In Luke 22:31-32, it is written,

English Translation

³¹ And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you (ὑμᾶς), that he may sift you as wheat: ³² But I have prayed for thee (σοῦ), that thy (σου) faith fail not: and when thou (σύ) art converted, strengthen thy (σου) brethren. ^{KJV, 1769}

Greek Text

^ΛΑʹ εἶπεν δὲ ὁ Κύριος, Σίμων Σίμων ἰδού, ὁ Σατανᾶς ἐξῃτήσατο ὑμᾶς τοῦ σινιάσαι ὡς τὸν σῖτον ^ΛΒʹ ἐγὼ δὲ ἐδεήθην περὶ σοῦ ἵνα μὴ ἐκλείπῃ ἡ πίστις σου καὶ σύ ποτε ἐπιστρέψας στήριξον τοὺς ἀδελφούς σου ^{TR, 1550}

What is the significance of the 2nd person, plural number, personal pronoun ὑμᾶς when the remainder of the pronouns are all in the singular number? The Lord Jesus Christ was speaking to Peter, so to whom does ὑμᾶς refer?

Answer 1

I think the answer to your question is very simple: in verse 31 Jesus is referring to the disciples as a whole (ὑμᾶς, “you” plural), while in verse 32 he is addressing Simon/Peter (σύ, “thou” singular). You are aware, I trust, that in KJV the words “to have”, and the second “you” (in “to sift you as wheat”) are printed in italics, indicating that they are not in the original text, but were added by the translators to clarify the meaning.

Answer 2

“Do you not see that St. Peter is the foundation of the church, selected to shepherd it, that those who believe in his faith will never lose their faith, and that he was ordered to have compassion on his brethren and to strengthen them? As for Christ’s words, “I prayed for you, that you not lose your faith; but you, have compassion on your brethren, at that time, and strengthen them,” [Luke 22:32-33] we do not think that he meant St. Peter himself. Rather, he meant nothing other than the holders [bishops “popes”] of the seat of St. Peter, that is, Rome.” Theodore Abu Qurrah, bishop of Harran (Modern Turkey near Syria Border) who lived in the 9th century AD, Discerning the True Church, B164, trans. John C. Lamoreaux