Exposition of John, Chapter 18 · Verse 6 – Verse 9
Ver 15. And Simon Peter followed Jeſus, and ſo did another Diſciple: that Diſciple was known unto the high Prieſt, and went in with Jeſus into the palace of the high Prieſt.
16. But Peter ſtood at the doore without, Then went out that other Diſciple, which was known to the high Prieſt, and spake unto her that kept the doore, and brought in Peter.
Followeth the ſecond part of the Chapter, containing an account of what occurred in the high Prieſts hall; It conſiſteth of three branches In the firſt whereof (to v. 19.) Peters firſt ſlip and denial of his Maſter is recorded. In theſe verſes is declared how Peter cometh to get into the place of trial: Namely, that (with another diſciple known to the high Prieſt) following his Maſter a far off, he is ſtopped at the door when the other got in, till that other diſciple, making uſe of his acquaintance in the houſe, removeth that ſtop. For clearing whereof, Conſider, 1. As for that other Diſciple known to the high Prieſt (and, as appears by his dealing with the maid, to his family alſo.) Albeit it may ſeeme to have been John the beloved Diſciple, who uſeth thus to ſpeak of himſelfe in the third perſon, as chap. 20.2, 3, 4. and elſewhere: Yet there is no ſufficient ground to think that it was either he, or any other of the eleven. For it is not very probable that obſcure men, who for three years and an halfe had been diſciples to Chriſt, ſhould yet (any of them) be ſo familiar in the high Prieſts houſe, who was ſo cruel an enemy to Jeſus. And therefore it ſhould ſeem he was one of Chriſts hidden diſciples (of whom Chap. 12.42.) who hearing of the buſineſſe, followed on with Peter (whom it ſeemeth he met by the way) and got eaſie acceſſe by reaſon of his acquaintance there. Conſider, 2. As for this practice of Peter; (or of John either, if ſo be that other was he) Albeit it was not unmeet Chriſt ſhould have ſome witneſſes there, to mark all that was done, and an hidden diſciple might act that part well enough: Yet ſeeing all the eleven Diſciples were diſmiſſed at that time, v. 8. and warned of their hazard, and the tryſting place aſſigned after his Reſurrection, Matth. 26.31, 32. and particularly, Peter being forewarned of his fall, Matth. 26.33, 34. and that he could not follow his Maſter now, John 13.36. It may be concluded that he did raſhly, (however, it ſeem, affectionatly) thus to hazard in ſuch a place of trial: Eſpecially, having no other errand, (as is marked, Mat. 26.58.) but only to ſee the end, to applaud and congratulate his Maſter, if he eſcaped, and to ſhift for himſelfe, if it fell out otherwiſe. Doctrine 1. The Lords people may draw themſelves under many ſelfe-created croſſes and trials; Not only in ſo far as by ſinne they procure they ſhould be inflicted, Jer. 2.19. or by their bitterneſſe and unbelief do render their own condition grievous unto them, as Jonah did: But more eſpecially, when they run without a calling, and caſt themſelves upon tentations, in enſnaring places and company; for, thus did Peter here, when he followed Jeſus into the high Prieſts hall; Whatever zeal or affection ſeem to be in it. 2. We are bound to have charity, that even many who have much acquaintance with greateſt perſecutors, may yet in their hearts be friends to Chriſt, though their faintneſs and reſervedneſs cannot be approved; for, there is another diſciple known to the high Prieſt, who went in (without interruption) with Jeſus into the palace of the high Prieſt. So there an Ob… diah in Ahabs court, and a Rahab in Jericho. 3. Albeit Chriſt in his ſuffering ſeem to be deſerted of all, and his enemies may think they have driven his followers from him, and now he is in the power of them and their complices; Yet he wants not, even in ſuch ſocieties, ſome who are friends, and witneſſes of their injuſtice; for, here, one known to the high Prieſt, who went in with Jeſus, was a diſciple, and was a witneſſe to all their procedure. 4. When the Lords people are running upon ſnares, it may pleaſe him to lay an impediment by his providence in their way; whereof they ought to make uſe, to examine their way better; for, ſo much did the Lord call Peter unto, when in his providence the other got in, but he ſtood at the door without, the gate, it ſeems, being ſtrictly kept, ſo that no ſtrangers got in, poſſibly out of fear leſt Chriſt be reſcued. It is of general verity, that impediments laid in our way; cals us to examine it, though it prove not alwayes ill becauſe impeded, but the Lord thereby would only exerciſe our dependance and other graces. 5. As when the voyce of conſcience is often ſleighted, it may be ſtricken dumb, that it moleſt not the ſinner; So when providential diſpenſations, croſſing our way, are not regarded, the Lord may take away theſe impediments, and let men go on without difficulty, though little to their profit; for, he ſtanding without ſtill, the other diſciple interpoſeth and obtaineth acceſſe for him to the place where he fell in the ſnare. 6. It is the duty of friends to take heed leſt, in ſeeking too much to pleaſure their friends, they prove inſtruments of their deſtruction, at leaſt, of their real hurt; for, ſo this diſciple, by his kindneſſe and care of Peter, helped him into the ſnare.
Verſe 17. Then ſaith the damoſel that kept the door, unto Peter, Art not thou alſo one of this mans Diſciples? He ſaith, I am not.
In this verſe is recorded Peters trial and fall when he is got in; Where at the voyce of a damſel who kept the doore, he denieth his Maſter, or that he was one of his diſciples. Whence learn, 1. In an hour of trial, Chriſt and his followers may expect to be ſo contemptible, that even the weakeſt and baſeſt will inſult over them; for, here, a weak damſel, (either knowing Peter by the other diſciples information who brought him in, or ſuſpecting what he was by his trembling, or feared-like carriage) doth fall a cavilling with Peter as one of Chriſts diſciples. 2. As the Lord ordinarily giveth a daſh to preſumption, by letting it ſuccumb under weakeſt trials; So we ought to look on every trial as above us without his ſtrength; for, here, ſtout Peter meeting with a weak damſel, and being encountred with ſoft words, art thou not alſo one of this mans (not this ſeducers) diſciples? yet he ſuccumbs. Though it be here propounded by way of queſtion, and elſewhere abſolutely aſſerted, thou waſt with Jeſus, Mat. 26.69. all cometh to one purpoſe, for this queſtion is not propounded by way of doubt, but as ſtrongly aſſerting it. 3. In this miſcarriage of Peter, we may read, how the Lord will have conceit puniſhed, even in his own; how carnal reſolutions to cleave to Chriſt will faile men in an extremity; and, how ſmall a great ſin will ſeem to be, and how eaſily digeſted, in an hour of fear and tentation; for, ſo much appears in Peter, who notwithſtanding his eſteem of his Maſter, and his ſtrong reſolutions, doth now ſpeak out that foul word, I am not one of his diſciples.
Verſe 18. And the ſervants and officers ſtood there, who had made a fire of coales, (for it was cold) and they warmed themſelves: and Peter ſtood with them, and warmed himſelfe.
The firſt branch of the firſt part of this Chapter, is here cloſed with an account of Peters carriage after this his ſlip: Namely, that he continued ſtill warming himſelfe among the reſt in a place ſo full of ſnares, which alſo did occaſion his repeated denials of his Maſter. He had been ſtanding there at his firſt denial, Mark. 14.67. but having withdrawn a little into the porch, where he heard the cock crow the firſt time, Mark. 14.68. he return: back again and continueth with them, till he is aſſaulted of new, as we find here, v. 25. Doct. 1. Such as are carnal perſecutors of Chriſt, may yet be furniſhed with ſtore of outward accommodations, that ſo Saints may not doat upon theſe things which are ſo frequently caſt to dogs; for, the ſervants and officers (who had taken Chriſt) had a fire of coales, to warme themſelves, for it was cold. See Joh 18.18. 2. One given up to a tentation of fear, may have large more vexation and toſſing with ſhifting of trouble, then a reſolute ſufferer with enduring it; for, ſo appeares in Peters carriage, who ſometime ſhifts himſelfe from among the crowd (as is marked by the reſt) and again, fearing leſt that might render him ſuſpect, he cometh among them, and ſtands with them, either that he might be hid in the throng, or might bear out his denial with his confident carriage. 3. The conſcience of 2 childe of God may be ſtrangly deaded and laid by for a time, by a ſinne againſt light, and not become ſoon tender again; for, though he had denied his Maſter, and the cock had crowed once (as is elſewhere recorded) to give him warning, yet he ſtood with them, and went not out to mourn. Thus was it with David in the matter of, Bethſhabe and Uriah: And in Peter it is eſpecially to be obſerved, that his care and toſſing about his own preſervation, hindred his conſcience to do its duty, which teſtifieth that that care was a ſnare unto him. 4. The children of the Lords refreſhments and accomodations are, many time, ſo dear bought, that it were far better to want them, then to go out of Gods way to finde them; for, Peter ſtood and warmed himſelfe, but the high Prieſts fire was a ſnare to a diſciple, and he was forced to vomite up that morſal, when he left the fire, and went out and wept bitterly.
Verſe 19. The High Prieſt then asked Jeſus of his Diſciples, and of his doctrine.
In the ſecond branch of this part of the Chapter, John gives an account of a conflict betwixt Chriſt and the high Prieſt, (omitting ſeveral other paſſages recorded by the reſt) v. 19, 20, 21. and with one of his ſervants, v. 22, 23, 24. In this verſe is recorded the high Prieſts examination of Chriſt, and putting him to give an account of his diſciples and doctrine, as ſuppoſing him guilty of ſedition and ſchiſme in gathering diſciples, and of hereſie in his doctrine whereby he gathered them. Whence learn, 1. Chriſt and his followers may expect no fair procedure of law from perſecutors, even when they ſeem to obſerve ſome forme of it; for, though it was the high Prieſts office to examine ſuch caſes, yet there is much informality here; Not only in that they had taken him before, and would have him now to anſwer before an armed guard, and in that their minde was preoccupied not to let him go on any tearmes, Luk. 22.67, 68. But in that they have taken and arraigned him, before they have any articles of accuſation to lay to his charge, and to prove by witneſſes, (as is alſo clear from the reſt) putting it upon himſelfe to give an account, and accuſe himſelf. 2. It is not unuſual for the beſt of doctrines and practices to paſſe up and down in the world under the moſt odious names and imputations; So that we ſhould not take notice of things according to the names uſually given them; for, ſo is Chriſt here in his practice ſuppoſed guilty of ſedition and ſchiſme, in gathering diſciples and followers, and his doctrine inſinuate to be unſound, and ſuch as could not abide the light, and therefore had been taught in corners, as Chriſt in his anſwer underſtands his queſtion, Thus alſo was the Goſpel and preachers thereof eſteemed of, Act. 17.6. and 24.14. and 28.22. though yet upon clear information, theſe imputations did eaſily evaniſh, Act. 26.28, 31, 32. 3. It pleaſed Chriſt to underly the imputation of ſedition, ſchiſme, and hereſie, as a perturber both of Church and State; That ſo he might not only ſanctifie ſuch a lot to his followers, but might expiate our ſeditious revoltings, and rentings from God, and one from another, and that falſe doctrine and theſe corrupt principles which our firſt Parents hearkened unto, and all of us by nature do entertain; for, ſo much may be gathered from his being accuſed in the matter of his diſciples, and of his doctrine. 4. Whatever zeal to Religion and ſound doctrine perſecutors of Chriſt and his followers do pretend, yet it is ſome other thing that pincheth them; And particularly, corrupt Church-men do oft-times make a great noiſe about Religion as wronged, when yet the thing that troubleth them moſt, is the decay of their own reputation among people: for, Therefore doth he enquire, firſt, of his diſciples, and then, of his doctrine, as being indeed not ſo much troubled with the matter of his doctrine (had it been never ſo unſound, as it was indeed the truth of God proceeding from truth it ſelfe) as that thereby diſciples were made, and ſo the reputation of him and his complices leſſened among the people.