Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 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.
16. stood ] Or, was standing; the descriptive imperfect again, Comp. Joh 18:5 ; Joh 18:15. The details here also indicate the report of an eyewitness. ‘At the door without ’ seems to indicate that the ‘court’ was inside rather than in front of the building.
her that kept the door ] Comp. Rhoda, Act 12:13.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
This further confirmeth the conjecture of those, who think that other disciple was none of the apostles, but a favourer of Christ, that lived in Jerusalem, and was of some repute either for estate or place; so as he had not only an acquaintance with the high priest, but also with his family; and could gain admittance into his palace, not only for himself but also for his friend.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
16. But Peter stood at the doorwithoutby preconcerted arrangement with his friend till heshould get access for him.
Then went out that other . .. and spake to her that kept the door, and brought in PeterThenaturalness of these small details is not unworthy of notice.This other disciple first made good his own entrance on the score ofacquaintance with the high priest; this secured, he goes forth again,now as a privileged person, to make interest for Peter’s admission.But thus our poor disciple is in the coils of the serpent. The nextsteps will best be seen by inverting Joh 18:17;Joh 18:18.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
But Peter stood at the door without,…. It being difficult to get in; and perhaps he might be fearful too of going in, lest he should be known; however, he waited, if he could hear or see anything, and for a proper opportunity of entrance: it would have been well if he had took the hint of providence, access not being easy, and have gone his way; for he was now at the door of temptation: it would have been best for him, if he had kept without; and indeed at a greater distance; but his curiosity had led him thus far, and he hoped for an opportunity of getting nearer, which offered in the following manner:
then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest; seeing Peter through the window, by the light of the moon, for it was full moon; and knowing him, who he was, concluded he had a mind to come in, and hear and see what he could, steps out,
and spake unto her that kept the door; which might be thought more properly the business of menservants; but these being employed in apprehending and guarding Jesus, the maid, servants might be obliged to take this post. The Ethiopic version, in the next verse, calls her the doorkeeper’s daughter; her father might be the porter, and he being busy, she supplied his place. Though there is no need of these conjectures, since it was usual with other nations, and it might be with the Jews, for women to be doorkeepers, as Pignorius l has shown out of Plautus, Petronius, Pausanias, and others. However, the other disciple, who was a man of figure and authority, and was known by the servants of the family, ordered her to open the door, and let Peter in; who accordingly did:
and brought in Peter; into the hall, where Jesus was, under the examination of the high priest.
l De Servis, p. 454, 455.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Was standing (). Same form in verse 5 which see. So also in 18. Picture of Peter standing outside by the door.
Unto the high priest ( ). Objective genitive here, but dative in verse 15.
Unto her that kept the door ( ). Old word (, door, , care), masculine in 10:3, feminine here, door-keeper (male or female).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Stood. Properly, was standing.
Door. The door opening from the street into the court.
Her that kept the door [ ] . See on 10 3.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “But Peter stood at the door without,” (ho de Petros heisthkai pros te thura ekso) “Then Peter stood at the door outside the court,” without the palace or in the outer court area, because he was not known to the household, as John was.
2) “Then went out that other disciple,” (ekselthen oun ho mathetes ho allos) “Then the other disciple,” (of the two who followed Jesus after the arrest that night), the one acquainted with the high priest and his kinsman servant, Malchus, Joh 18:10; Joh 18:26.
3) “Which was known unto the high priest,” (ho gnostos tou archiereos) “The one who was known to the high priest,” John, the apostle, Joh 18:15; Joh 21:20; Joh 21:24.
4) “And spake unto her that kept the door,” (kai eipen te theroro) “And told the portress,” the door keeping maid, spoke to her, introduced her to Peter, vouched for Peter. From this, it is inferred that John, the beloved apostle, was both known by, and had a good reputation with, the household of the high priest. Female doorkeepers are mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments, 2Sa 4:6; Act 12:13.
5) “And brought in Peter.” (kai eisegagen ton Petron) ”And he brought Peter inside the court,” where the charges were being laid against Jesus. Peter had followed Jesus and the arresting band “afar off,” keeping a distance away, as he came to the outer court of the palace, Mat 26:58.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(16) But Peter stood at the door without.i.e., at the door of the court. He remained here with the crowd. Jesus as a prisoner, and the other disciple as a friend of the high priest, went into the court.
Unto her that kept the door.Comp. Act. 12:13 and 2Sa. 4:6 (LXX.). That women kept the door among the Jews we know from Josephus (Ant vii. 2, 1).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
16. Her that kept the door It is customary, even at the present day, in the East, for the doors of the wealthy to be superintended by a portress, who receives a fee for her services from the visitors.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘But Peter was standing at the door outside. So the other disciple went and spoke to the woman who guarded the door, and brought in Peter.’
The reminiscences are clear and natural, suggesting one who was there. There is really no reason to doubt them. This disciple had bravely followed closely behind the group who held Jesus, along with Peter, and had had no difficulty in getting in because he was known. But then he realised that Peter had been left behind and he realised why. He had been refused entrance. So he went back and obtained entrance for him by vouching for him. It was after all a private residence.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Joh 18:16-18 . Peter , who had no acquaintance in the house, had not been admitted into the court ( , Joh 18:15 ), but stood, after John had gone in with the procession, outside at the door; [212] hence John obtains, by means of the portress (Joseph. Antt . vii. 2. 1; Act 12:13 ), permission to introduce him. The refers to John; by Erasmus, Grotius, Ewald, and several others, it is referred to the portress , but in that way would give an unnecessary change of subject. The portress at the gate within the court asks of Peter, when admitted: “ But art not thou also ,” etc.? The carries the presupposition that John , whom she had notwithstanding also admitted for acquaintance’ sake, was a disciple of Jesus; the negative question rests on the feeling that probably she ought not otherwise to have admitted him.
. ] contemptuously, not compassionately (Chrysostom, Theophylact, and several others).
After the denial, Peter, whom, notwithstanding, his love to the Lord still detains at least in the open place, finds himself among the slaves (of Annas) and the officers of justice (the soldiers, Joh 18:3 , appear to have gone with Jesus into the building as an escort), with whom he stands at the fire of coals in the court, and warms himself. Holding aloof, he would have been seized. John , probably by help of his acquaintanceship, pressed with others into the interior of the house , not exactly into the audience-chamber.
[212] It was the street door of the court, the (see Dorvill. ad Char. p. 31, Amst.; Dissen, ad Pind. Nem. i. 19, p. 361).
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
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.
Ver. 16. But Peter stood at the door ] Better he had kept him further off. He that will not fall into the ditch, must not walk too near the brim. Peter might better have bestowed himself somewhere else. Longe utilius fuisset, gemere, et precari in obscuro aliquo angulo, saith Musculus. It had been better for him to have been praying in a corner than thus to put himself upon a danger, unless he had known himself the stronger. Luther comforted the men of Miltenberg by an epistle; and because they were forbidden to meet and talk together about matters of religion, upon pain of death, he adviseth those of them that were strong in the spirit to do their duty, notwithstanding the danger. But for the weaker sort he exhorteth them to rejoice secretly in the Lord and to pray to him for further strength, that they may be able to make a bold and wise profession of his truth. Qui infirmiores sunt, tacite in Domino gaudeant, Deumque rogent, ut se quoque animet ad publicam veritatis professionem.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
16. . ] It was not unexampled to have female porters among the Jews: see reff.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Joh 18:16 . Peter, not being known to the household, was excluded and stood outside at the door, , cf. Joh 20:11 . John, missing him, spoke to the doorkeeper and introduced him. , female doorkeepers appear 2Sa 4:6 , Act 12:13 , and see Wetstein.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
stood = was standing.
at. Greek. pros. App-104.
her that kept the door = doorkeeper. Greek thuroros. Here and in Joh 18:17 feminine. Occurs elsewhere Joh 10:3. Mar 13:34 (masculine) Female porters were not uncommon. Compare Act 12:13. The Septuagint reads in 2Sa 4:6, “The porter (feminine) of the house winnowed wheat, and slumbered and slept”. Compare Josephus, Antiq., bk. vii, ch. ii. 1.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
16. .] It was not unexampled to have female porters among the Jews: see reff.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Joh 18:16. , without) The disciple, although known as such (John has not added in this place , secretly, as in ch. Joh 19:38),[381] walking in openly, is safer than Peter, who was not known as such, and who acts timidly. General hatred of religion admits of an exception in the case of personal friends, so as to connive at them.-, spake) asking her to allow him to bring in Peter.
[381] Perhaps if is to be read without the article in ver. 15, Joseph, who is called in ch. Joh 19:38, and who, from his wealth and position, is not unlikely to have known Caiaphas; or rather Nicodemus, who must have known him, as being one of the Sanhedrim, ch. Joh 3:1, who also would be conscious as such of their plot against Jesus, and so would take care to be present at the trial, and who is mentioned ch. Joh 19:39, was the here meant. The openness of Nicodemus avowal, already contrasted with his timidity at first, which led them to ask, ch. Joh 7:52, Art thou also of Galilee? makes him the probable person: comp. ver. 50.-E. and T.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Joh 18:16
Joh 18:16
but Peter was standing at the door without. So the other disciple, who was known unto the high priest, went out and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.-The other disciple obtained permission likely from the high priest, went out, spoke to the woman who seemed to guard the door, and brought Peter in. It seems that women were frequently employed in such positions as janitors to a building. Others speak of Peter following afar off. (Mat 26:58). [The damsel who guarded the door suffered John, who was an acquaintance, to pass in; but probably seeing Peter was a stranger refused to admit him. John went in, evidently expecting Peter to follow, but when he did not he returned and requested the maid to allow him to enter and she did so.]
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Reciprocal: Exo 38:8 – assembling Mat 26:56 – Then Mat 26:58 – and went Mat 26:69 – Peter Mar 14:54 – even Joh 13:38 – The cock Joh 18:17 – the damsel Act 4:13 – they took
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
6
Peter lingered at the door while John went on into the palace, doubtless for the purpose of obtaining permission to bring in also his brother apostle Peter. With such authority, he went to the damsel who was guarding the door, and from her he obtained the privilege of bringing Peter on in.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Joh 18:16. But Peter stood at the door without. Peter is stopped at the door; and, while he stands there, Jesus is lost to his view.
The other disciple therefore, which was known unto the high priest, went forth and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter. The circumstance thus related is in the highest degree natural, and it is related in the most simple manner.