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JOHN 18:18 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
John 18:17John 18:19
“And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.”
Now the slaves and the police had made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves; and Peter also was standing with them and warming himself — The warming fire (anthrakia, a word appearing only here and in 21:9, creating a narrative bookend for Peter's restoration) establishes the scene's domestic intimacy. Yet within warmth and commonality, Peter denies knowledge of Jesus. The charcoal fire's warmth contrasts with the cold darkness into which Peter's denial plunges him spiritually.

Church Fathers on John 18:18

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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