▼ The majority of mss (א A D W Θ Ψ f^{1, 13} Maj. as well as several versional witnesses) begin this verse with an introductory comment, “and the Lord said,” indicating a change in the subject of discussion. But this is apparently a reading motivated by the need for clarity. Some of the best witnesses, along with a few others (Ƥ⁷⁵ B L T 1241 2542^c sy^s co), do not contain these words. The abrupt shift is the more difficult reading and thus more likely to be original.

▼ Grk “behold” (for “pay attention” see L&N 91.13).

▼ This pronoun is plural in the Greek text, so it refers to all the disciples of which Peter is the representative.

▼ Satan has demanded permission to put them to the test. The idiom “sift (someone) like wheat” is similar to the English idiom “to pick (someone) apart.” The pronoun you is implied.