Sign in
JOHN 18:17 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
John 18:16John 18:18
“Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man’s disciples? He saith, I am not.”
The woman said to Peter, 'You are not also one of his disciples, are you?' He denied it and said, 'I am not.' — The gatekeeper's casual question—not an accusation but an inference from Peter's presence—triggers the first denial. Peter's response ("I am not," ouk eimi) inverts Jesus' identification (ego eimi, "I am") with stunning symmetry: where Jesus claims divine identity, Peter disclaims any association. The servant woman's question, seemingly innocuous, becomes the arena of Peter's apostolic failure.

Church Fathers on John 18:17

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
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a reflection on this verse
No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!
John 18:17 — Community Reflections | HolyStudy