JESUS AND PETER

Passage: John 18:12-27

Key verse: 23

NIV

12 Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials(A) arrested Jesus. They bound him 13 and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas,(B) the high priest that year. 14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.(C)

Peter’s First Denial(D)

15 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest,(E) he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard,(F) 16 but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in.

17 “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter.

He replied, “I am not.”(G)

18 It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire(H) they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.(I)

The High Priest Questions Jesus(J)

19 Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.

20 “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues(K) or at the temple,(L) where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.(M) 21 Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”

22 When Jesus said this, one of the officials(N) nearby slapped him in the face.(O) “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.

23 “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?”(P) 24 Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas(Q) the high priest.

Peter’s Second and Third Denials(R)

25 Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself.(S) So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?”

He denied it, saying, “I am not.”(T)

26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off,(U) challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?”(V) 27 Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.(W)

Read full chapter
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Jesus Faces Annas and Caiaphas

12 So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews[a] arrested Jesus and bound him. 13 First they (A)led him to (B)Annas, for he was the father-in-law of (C)Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14 It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews (D)that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.

Peter Denies Jesus

15 (E)Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, 16 (F)but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. 17 (G)The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man's disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” 18 Now the servants[b] and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. (H)Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.

The High Priest Questions Jesus

19 (I)The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. 20 Jesus answered him, “I have spoken (J)openly (K)to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. (L)I have said nothing in secret. 21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” 22 When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, (M)“Is that how you answer the high priest?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” 24 (N)Annas then sent him bound to (O)Caiaphas the high priest.

Peter Denies Jesus Again

25 (P)Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” 26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of (Q)the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you (R)in the garden with him?” 27 Peter again denied it, and (S)at once a rooster crowed.

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. John 18:12 Greek Ioudaioi probably refers here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, in that time; also verses 14, 31, 36, 38
  2. John 18:18 Or bondservants; also verse 26
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Jesus' first trial (12-14; 19-24)

Jesus was taken to Annas, a former high priest and the father-in-law of Caiaphas. Jesus was not afraid. When the high priest questioned him, he pointed out that the questions were illegal and unnecessary. He ignored questions about his disciples. His hands were bound, but they struck him in the face. When they could not intimidate him, they sent him to the official high priest, Caiaphas. Caiaphas had already decided to put Jesus to death (14). John does not record the trial before the Sanhedrin (Mt 26:57-67).

2. Peter on trial (15-18; 25-27)

Peter followed with his feet, but he had no decision in his heart. He got into the courtyard with John's help, but he was full of fear. When a servant girl questioned him, he denied being a disciple. His 'I am not' is a sharp contrast to Jesus' 'I am.' Peter didn't know what to do, so he mingled with the enemy, warmed himself by the fire and tried to be inconspicuous. He denied Jesus two more times, then the rooster crowed. Peter had not intended to deny Jesus, but he did.

Prayer: Lord, help me to follow you with a committed heart.

One Word: Have a clear identity