John 18:16
But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter. But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.
Peter waited outside the high priest's doorway while John, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the woman guarding the door to bring him inside. This happened when Jesus had been taken to Annas for a preliminary examination before the formal hearing, and Peter and John were the two disciples who regained courage after fleeing and followed at a distance to the palace. John entered openly as a follower of Jesus, stayed near Him without joining His mockers, and because he hid nothing he was not questioned. Peter entered dejected and mingled with the crowd by the fire hoping to pass as one of the captors, but the doorkeeper had seen him come in with John and questioned him, drawing his first denial. The contrast teaches that concealing discipleship to avoid scorn and suffering puts one in the way of temptation and is itself a denial of the Lord, while openly staying near Christ shows devoted courage. Peter's fearful denial was followed by deep repentance under Christ's reproving look, which humbled him to sympathize with the weak and fitted him to be restored, named personally after the resurrection, and appointed to strengthen his brethren and care for Christ's flock.
Setting and Entry
This verse belongs to the account of Jesus taken to Annas for a preliminary examination before the formal hearing before the Sanhedrin, also described as Jesus before Annas and the court of Caiaphas. The two disciples who after deserting Jesus in the garden regained courage and followed at a distance the mob that had Jesus in charge to the high priest's palace were Peter and John, and the other disciple known to the high priest is John. Peter stood outside at the door without while John went in with Jesus into the palace, and John then went out, spoke to the woman guarding the door, and brought Peter inside.
John was recognized and admitted as a well-known disciple of Jesus because the priest hoped that watching the humiliation of his leader would fill John with the enemies' spirit and make him scorn one subjected to such indignities as the Son of God. John entered the hall openly as a follower of Jesus without concealing his discipleship, did not join those mocking and insulting his Master, and stayed in a quiet, retired corner as near Jesus as possible where he could see and hear all that happened at the trial. Because he assumed no false character he gave no ground for suspicion and was not questioned.
After being brought in, Peter stood and mingled with the people by the fire, hoping to avoid recognition as a disciple and to pass as one of Jesus' captors, and the doorkeeper noticed that he had come in with John. The mock trial Peter and John witnessed was kept secret so the people would not bring testimony about Jesus' mighty works, condemn the rulers' actions, and secure Jesus' release and renewed honor. The betrayal and trial followed a crisis of followers turning away that had prepared the faithful disciples for rejection and suffering ahead, so they were less likely to be overwhelmed when Jesus was betrayed and condemned.
Denial and Restoration
Peter remained outside the high priest's palace until the other disciple, John, who was known to the high priest and had gone in with Jesus, spoke to the woman guarding the door and brought him inside. He entered with a downcast, dejected look on his face, and because the woman had seen him come in with John she suspected he was one of Christ's followers. Her questioning whether he was one of Jesus' disciples drew his first denial that he knew Jesus. The verse thus places Peter at the scene of Jesus' humiliation before he denied Him, having followed anxious to see what would happen to Him. Fear for his own safety and trusting in himself led him to deny being His disciple and to fail to witness for Him during the trial.
John openly followed Jesus and stayed near Him without blending in with those reviling Him, while Peter concealed his identity and by associating with the hostile crowd placed himself in the way of temptation. Even one willing to fight courageously for Christ can give way to fear of ridicule and reproach when put under social pressure. Disguising faith from fear of suffering or scorn to avoid it is in effect denying the Lord as Peter did, and hiding faith from fear of ridicule is a denial of Christ. Yielding under such pressure may also bring contempt from those who tempted to concealment. John's remaining near Jesus in the judgment hall where he could hear and see all that happened at the trial showed devoted courage in braving its danger for Him.
Peter's failure was followed by deep repentance and renewed commitment to his Saviour after Jesus' sorrowful, reproving look brought him to remember Jesus' warning. His sorrow and humbling and conversion fitted him to pity the tempted, sympathize with the weak and erring, warn the presumptuous, and strengthen his fellow believers and disciples. After his conversion he became a bold witness for Christ. After the resurrection he was named personally in the message to the disciples, restored to his place among them, appointed to care for Christ's flock, and told by Jesus to follow Him.