John 18:16 — Community Reflections

JOHN 18:16 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“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 was standing outside at the gate. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the gatekeeper, and brought Peter in — The unnamed disciple's influence secures Peter access to the courtyard, an act of loyalty that precedes Peter's catastrophic denial. The detailed attention to access—gates, gatekeepers, entry permissions—establishes the physical and social barriers defining Peter's crisis. His separation from Jesus at the gate prefigures his spiritual separation in denial.

Church Fathers on John 18:16

The temptation of Peter, which took place in the midst of the contumelies offered to our Lord, is not placed by all in the same order. Matthew and Mark put the contumelies first, the temptation of Peter afterwards; Luke the temptation first, the contumelies after. John begins with the temptation: And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple.
Augustine · 4th century

He followed his Master out of devotion, though afar off, on account of fear.
Alcuin · 8th century

though he is relating an act of great virtue, how that he followed when the rest fled. He puts Peter before himself, and then mentions himself, in order to show that he was inside the hall, and therefore related what took place there with more certainty than the other Evangelists could. That disciple was known to the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest. This he mentions not as a boast, but in order to diminish his own merit, in having been…
Chrysostom · 4th century · He omits his own name out of humility

Read all 11 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

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