What does Luke 22:32 mean?
Peter is being warned about what he and the other disciples are going to do. In a move reminiscent of Job 1:8–12, Satan has asked God permission to test the faith of the disciples. He wants to sift them like wheat: metaphorically tear them apart. God will only allow Him to sift in a more traditional way: throw them in the air to blow away the unusable chaff of their weak character from the good grain of their faith (Luke 22:31).Jesus has called Peter "Simon," which means "listening;" He wants Peter to hear Him. Jesus has prayed that Peter's faith won't fail; He knows that it will and that Peter will deny that he knows Jesus. But Jesus has also prayed that when Peter returns—reconciles—with Him, he will lead the other disciples in the way they should go.
Peter does this from the day of Jesus' ascension. He leads them in finding a replacement for Judas (Acts 1:12–26), preaches to thousands in Jerusalem (Acts 2:14–41), defends Jesus' resurrection before the Sanhedrin (Acts 4:1–22), and continues preaching when the Sanhedrin threatens the disciples (Acts 5:17–42). He makes some missteps, largely related to his confusion about the inclusion of Gentiles in the church (Galatians 2:11–14). But he finds that Jesus was right when He said those who are forgiven much love much (Luke 7:47).
"Fail," here, has the sense of disappearing completely. When Peter denies Jesus, he will have a kernel of faith still active as proved by his intense mourning (Luke 22:54–62). Peter will lose his courage, not his love for Jesus. "Turned again" means "repent." Jesus will lead Peter to repentance and restoration on the shore of the Sea of Galilee when He tells Peter "Feed my lambs" (John 21:15–17).
