12 So the Roman cohort and the commander and the officers of the Jews , arrested Jesus and bound Him,
13 and led Him to Annas first ; for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas , who was high priest that year . 14 Now Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people .
15 Simon Peter was following Jesus , and so was another disciple . Now that disciple was known to the high priest , and entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest , 16 but Peter was standing at the door outside . So the other disciple , who was known to the high priest , went out and spoke to the doorkeeper , and brought Peter in. 17 Then the slave-girl who kept the door said to Peter , " You are not also one of this man's disciples , are you?" He said , "I am not." 18 Now the slaves and the officers were standing there, having made a charcoal fire , for it was cold and they were warming themselves; and Peter was also with them, standing and warming himself.
19 The high priest then questioned Jesus about His disciples , and about His teaching . 20 Jesus answered him, "I have spoken openly to the world ; I always taught in synagogues and in the temple , where all the Jews come together ; and I spoke nothing in secret . 21 "Why do you question Me? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; they know what I said ." 22 When He had said this , one of the officers standing nearby struck e Jesus , saying , "Is that the way You answer the high priest ?" 23 Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken wrongly , testify of the wrong ; but if rightly , why do you strike Me?" 24 So Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest .
25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, " You are not also one of His disciples , are you?" He denied it, and said , "I am not." 26 One of the slaves of the high priest , being a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut off , said , "Did I not see you in the garden with Him?" 27 Peter then denied it again , and immediately a rooster crowed .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on John 18:12-27
Commentary on John 18:1-12
(Read John 18:1-12)
Sin began in the garden of Eden, there the curse was pronounced, there the Redeemer was promised; and in a garden that promised Seed entered into conflict with the old serpent. Christ was buried also in a garden. Let us, when we walk in our gardens, take occasion from thence to mediate on Christ's sufferings in a garden. Our Lord Jesus, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth and asked, Whom seek ye? When the people would have forced him to a crown, he withdrew, 15, but when they came to force him to a cross, he offered himself; for he came into this world to suffer, and went to the other world to reign. He showed plainly what he could have done; when he struck them down he could have struck them dead, but he would not do so. It must have been the effect of Divine power, that the officers and soldiers let the disciples go away quietly, after the resistance which had been offered. Christ set us an example of meekness in sufferings, and a pattern of submission to God's will in every thing that concerns us. It is but a cup, a small matter. It is a cup that is given us; sufferings are gifts. It is given us by a Father, who has a father's authority, and does us no wrong; a father's affection, and means us no hurt. From the example of our Saviour we should learn how to receive our lighter afflictions, and to ask ourselves whether we ought to oppose our Father's will, or to distrust his love. We were bound with the cords of our iniquities, with the yoke of our transgressions. Christ, being made a sin-offering for us, to free us from those bonds, himself submitted to be bound for us. To his bonds we owe our liberty; thus the Son makes us free.
Commentary on John 18:13-27
(Read John 18:13-27)
Simon Peter denied his Master. The particulars have been noticed in the remarks on the other Gospels. The beginning of sin is as the letting forth of water. The sin of lying is a fruitful sin; one lie needs another to support it, and that another. If a call to expose ourselves to danger be clear, we may hope God will enable us to honour him; if it be not, we may fear that God will leave us to shame ourselves. They said nothing concerning the miracles of Jesus, by which he had done so much good, and which proved his doctrine. Thus the enemies of Christ, whilst they quarrel with his truth, wilfully shut their eyes against it. He appeals to those who heard him. The doctrine of Christ may safely appeal to all that know it, and those who judge in truth bear witness to it. Our resentment of injuries must never be passionate. He reasoned with the man that did him the injury, and so may we.