Question: Just before his arrest and death Jesus told his disciples to sell their clothes and use the money to buy themselves swords (see Luke 22, verses 35 - 38). Why were the disciples told to buy such weapons?

Answer: First, let us take a look at the verses you mentioned that concern Jesus and his disciples buying swords.

And He (Jesus Christ) said to them (his twelve disciples), "When I sent you (on training missions) without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything? . . . But now . . . he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one . . . For the things concerning Me have an end."

So they (the disciples) said, "Lord, look, here are two swords." And He said to them, "It is enough" (Luke 22:35 - 38, NKJV).

https://www.biblestudy.org/question/why-did-jesus-tell-disciples-to-buy-swords.html

Jesus Predicts His Death

21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”

23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

28 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2016%3A21-23%3A24&version=NIV