Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of John 18:18
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.
18. And the servants, &c.] Better, Now the servants and the officers, having made were standing and warming themselves. The tribune ( Joh 18:12) having deposited his prisoner in safety, has withdrawn with his men. Only the Jewish officials remain, joined now by the household servants of the high priests.
a fire of coals ] Charcoal in a brazier, ‘to the light’ of which (Luk 22:56) S. Peter turned. Comp. Joh 21:9; Sir 11:32 .
for it was cold ] Cold nights are exceptional but not uncommon in Palestine in April. Jerusalem stands high.
and Peter, &c.] Rather, And Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself pretending to be indifferent, but restlessly changing his posture. S. Luke says he ‘ sat to the light.’
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 18. Servants and officers] These belonged to the chief priests, c. the Roman soldiers had probably been dismissed after having conducted Christ to Annas.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Here is nothing in this verse which needeth any explication, unless any should ask how it could be cold weather at that time of the year, (about April 14), especially in a country where it now was the time of harvest? Which may easily be resolved. It was now about three of the clock in the morning, and we know that in summer (the spring especially) nights are cold; besides that in those countries that are more equinoctial, the nights are longer, and consequently colder towards the morning, as the air hath had more time to cool.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
18. And the servants andofficersthe menials and some of the “band” that”took Jesus.” (Also see on Mr14:54.)
stood there, who hadmade“having made.”
a fire of coals, for it wascold, and they warmed themselves“John alone notices thematerial (charcoal) of which the fire was made, and the reason for afirethe coldness of the night” [WEBSTERand WILKINSON]. “Peterwent in and sat with the servants to see the end (Mt26:58), and warmed himself at the fire” (Mr14:54). These two statements are extremely interesting. Hiswishing to “see the end,” of issue of these proceedings,was what led him into the palace, for he evidently feared the worst.But once in, the serpent coil is drawn closer; it is a cold night,and why should not he take advantage of the fire as well as others?Besides, in the talk of the crowd about the all-engrossing topic, hemay pick up something which he would like to hear. “And as Peterwas beneath in the palace” (Mr14:66). Matthew (Mt 26:69)says, “sat without in the palace.” According toOriental architecture, and especially in large buildings, as here,the street dooror heavy folding gate through which single personsentered by a wicket kept by a porteropened by a passage or “porch”(Mr 14:68) into a quadrangularcourt, here called the “palace” or hall,which was open above, and is frequently paved withflagstones. In the center of this court the “fire” would bekindled (in a brazier). At the upper end of it, probably, was thechamber in which the trial was held, open to the court and not farfrom the fire (Lu 22:61),but on a higher level; for Mark (Mr14:66) says the court was “beneath” it. Theascent was, perhaps, by a short flight of steps. This explanationwill make the intensely interesting details more intelligible.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And the servants and officers stood there,…. In a certain part of the hall, the middle of it; the Vulgate Latin reads, “by the coals”: it follows,
who had made a fire of coals, for it was cold; though it was the passover, and harvest near. Dr. Lightfoot has observed from our countryman Biddulph, who was at Jerusalem at this time of the year, that though in the daytime it was as hot as with us at Midsummer, yet such very great dews fell as made it very cold, especially in the night; and from one of the Jewish canons m, that the year was not intercalated, (which when done was chiefly on account of the passover,) neither for snow nor frost; which, as he justly remarks, supposes there might be frost and snow at the time of the passover. The same is observed in the Talmud n, where the gloss upon it is,
“that they might not desist, on that account, from coming to the passover.”
The sense is, that whereas sometimes snow fell about the time of the passover; which might be thought to be an hinderance to some from coming to it; this never was a reason that came into consideration with the sanhedrim, or prevailed upon them to intercalate a month, that so the passover might not fall at a time of year when there was usually snow. The passover was always in the spring of the year, when nights are commonly cold, as they are generally observed to be at the vernal equinox: this night might be remarkably cold; which seems to be suggested by the Persic version, which reads, “for it was cold that night”; and the Ethiopic version, “for the cold of that night was great”; and adds what is neither in the text, nor true, “for the country was cold”. The Arabic version, as it should seem, very wrongly renders it, “for it was winter”; since the passover was never kept in the winter season, but always in the spring, in the month Nisan: the winter season, with the Jews, were half the month of Chisleu, all Tebeth, and half Shebet o; though this is to be observed in favour of that version, that the Jews distinguish their winter into two parts; the one they call , which, as the gloss says, is the strength of winter, the coldest part of it, and which lasts the time before mentioned; and the other they call , which is the end of winter, and when the cold is not so strong; and half Nisan is taken into this; for they say that half Shebat, all Adar, and half Nisan, are reckoned to this part of winter: so that, according to this account, the fourteenth of Nisan, which was the day on which the passover was killed; or at least the fifteenth, which was now begun, was the last day of winter, and so just secures the credit of the above version.
And they warmed themselves, and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself: he was cold both inwardly and outwardly; and being so, he gets into bad company; and it may be with a view that he might not be suspected, but be taken for one of their own sort, as one who had the same ill opinion of Jesus they had; and by the light of the fire he is again discovered and challenged, which makes way for a second denial.
m Maimon. Hilch. Kiddush Chodesh, c. 4. sect. 6. n T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 11. 1. o T. Bab. Bava Metzia, fol. 106. 2.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
A fire of coals (). Old word, in LXX, only here and 21:9 in N.T. A heap of burning coals (, coal). Cf. our “anthracite.” It was cold ( ). “There was coldness.” The soldiers had apparently returned to their barracks.
Were warming themselves (). Direct middle imperfect indicative of (from ). So as to about Peter. “Peter, unabashed by his lie, joined himself to the group and stood in the light of the fire” (Dods).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Stood. It is discouraging to see how the A. V. habitually ignores the imperfect tense, and thus detracts from the liveliness of the narrative. Render, as Rev., were standing.
Fire of coals [] . Only here and Joh 21:9. Matthew does not mention the fire. Mark has to fwv, strictly, the light of the fire. Luke says they had kindled a fire [] .
Warmed. Rev., correctly, were warming. So, ver. 25, was standing and was warming, for stood and warmed.
19 – 24. Compare Mt 26:59 – 68; Mr 14:55 – 65; Luk 22:63 – 71.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And the servants and officers stood there,” (estekeisan de hoi douloi kai hoi huperetai) “Then the slaves and the attendants, household servants and Sanhedrin officers stood out there,” in the outer-court of the palace, alternating from standing to sitting positions, Mat 26:69-70.
2) “Who had made a fire of coals;” (anthrakian pepoiektes) “Who had made a fire of coals,” Luk 22:54-55. It was in the open air court of the house.
3) “For it was cold:” (hoti psuchos hen) “Because it was cold,” so that the body was chilled without fire. For Jerusalem, rising 2,500 feet above sea level, is cold at night in springtime.
4) “And they warmed themselves:” (kai ethermainonto) “And they were warming themselves,” as members of the court, witnesses, and soldiers, Luk 22:56.
5) “And Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.” (hen de kai ho Petros met’ auton hestos kai thermainomenos) “Then Peter was also standing with them and warming himself,” Mar 14:54. To this point he was unblushing, thinking he had gotten by with his first lie.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
18. And Simon Peter was standing with them. When the evangelist adds that Peter was standing near the fire, along with the others and servants, this serves to connect the various parts of the narrative, as we shall afterwards see. But this shows how great was Peter’s stupidity, when, without the least concern, he warmed himself along with a multitude of wicked men, after having denied his Master; though it is possible that he may have been restrained by fear lest, in going out of the high priest’s house, he should fall into another danger of the same kind.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(18) And the servants and officers stood there.i.e., in the quadrangular court. The servants are the household servants or slaves of the high priest. The officers are the Temple servants. (Comp. Note on Joh. 18:3.)
A fire of coals.In the Greek this phrase is expressed by one word which occurs again in the New Testament in Joh. 21:9; and in the LXX. in Sir. 11:30; Sir. 11:32; and 4Ma. 9:20. It means a glowing fire. One of the Greek translators (Aquila) uses it in Psa. 119:4 (English version Psa. 120:4 : coals of juniperthat is, of the broom plant).
Peter stood with them, and warmed himself:It is implied that the other disciple had been admitted into the house. As the houses were usually constructed, the court would be visible from the interior. Peter has already been identified as a disciple. To stand aloof would have been to call further attention to himself. He joins the company, therefore, round the fire.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
18. Made a fire of coals The square court (Vol. i, pp. 121, 326) enclosed within the structure of an Eastern house, lying under the open air, is often paved, and furnishes the proper basis for a coal fire. It is not unfrequent that at the Passover period the weather is cold enough in Jerusalem to render a fire desirable.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Joh 18:18. A fire of coals; for it was cold See the note on Jer 36:22. Fires in winter are used but for a little while at Aleppo, which is considerably further to the north than Jerusalem; and some there make use of none at all. The fires they then use in their lodging-rooms are of charcoal, in pans; which sort of fire also is used by the Egyptians. They had no chimneys. But what seems most to have required the use of wood, and consequently chimneys, among the Jews, was the dressing the paschal lamb; for charcoal might without doubt be sufficient for their common cookery. If, however, they roasted the lambs of the passover, as Thevenot tells us the Persians do whole sheep, as well as lambs, which are not designed for sacred purposes, the use of smoky wood might be avoided; for they do it, he says, in ovens, which have the mouth open at the top; into which, after they are well heated, they put the meat, with an earthen pan underneath, to receive the fat: they roast alike on all sides, and he acknowledges that they dress them well. He subjoins anotherway of roasting a whole sheep, practised by the Armenians, by which also the use of smoky wood is avoided: for having flayed it, they cover it again with the skin, and put it into an oven upon the quick coals, covering it also with a good many of the same coals, that it may have fire under and over, to roast it well on all sides; and the skin keeps it from being burned. But however these things may be, it is certain that this account is in no wise contradicted, but rather confirmed, by what St. John says of a fire kindled in a palace at Jerusalem, to warm persons who had been out in a cold night, which it seems was a fire of charcoal, not of wood, and gives a propriety to the mentioning of this circumstance which I never observed to be remarked in any author. In like manner paschal ovens are also mentioned by Jewish writers. See the Observations on Sacred Scriptures, p. 117.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
18 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.
Ver. 18. And warmed himself ] But while he warmed without, he cooled within. Evil company is a great quench coal, an ill air for zeal to breathe in, it casts a damp. “For the abundance of iniquity, the love of many waxeth cold,” Mat 24:12 . Peter’s evil example was a compulsion to other good people, Gal 2:14 . What marvel then if the swearing, cursing soldiers compelled him to do the like? They were the trunks through which the devil delivered himself, jeering at and railing upon Christ, no doubt, &c.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
18 20. ] FINAL MANIFESTATION OF JESUS AS THE LORD, IN REFERENCE TO THE NOW ACCOMPLISHED REJECTION OF HIM BY THE UNBELIEF OF ISRAEL, AND THE SORELY TRIED BUT EVENTUALLY CONFIRMED FAITH OF HIS OWN. And herein Joh 18:1 to Joh 19:16 . ] His voluntary submission of Himself to His enemies and to the unbelief of Israel .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Joh 18:18 . . The household servants and the Sanhedrim servitors had made a fire in the open court of the house and were standing round it warming themselves. Peter, unabashed by his lie, joined himself to this group and stood in the light of the fire. Cf. Luk 22:56 , . Jerusalem, lying 2500 feet above sea-level, is cold at night in spring.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
officers. The Chiliarch and Roman soldiers had gone back to their barracks (Antonia), leaving the Lord in the hands of the Jews.
stood . . . warmed. All these verbs are in the imperfect.
a fire of coals. Greek anthrakia. Only here and Joh 21:9.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
18-20.] FINAL MANIFESTATION OF JESUS AS THE LORD, IN REFERENCE TO THE NOW ACCOMPLISHED REJECTION OF HIM BY THE UNBELIEF OF ISRAEL, AND THE SORELY TRIED BUT EVENTUALLY CONFIRMED FAITH OF HIS OWN. And herein Joh 18:1 to Joh 19:16.] His voluntary submission of Himself to His enemies and to the unbelief of Israel.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Joh 18:18. , Peter) He had become cold on the Mount of Olives.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Joh 18:18
Joh 18:18
Now the servants and the officers were standing there, having made a fire of coals; for it was cold; and they were warming themselves: and Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.-It was now about midnight, growing cold, and the servants of the priests and those who waited in the court had built a fire to warm and Peter stood with them warming himself.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
who: Joh 18:25, Mar 14:54, Luk 22:55, Luk 22:56
for: Luk 22:44
Peter: Gen 49:6, 1Ki 19:9, Psa 1:1, Psa 26:4-10, Pro 13:20, Act 4:23, 1Co 15:33, 2Co 6:15-17, Eph 5:11, Eph 5:12
Reciprocal: Act 28:2 – because
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
8
The reader should refer to the comments on Mat 26:69 for information concerning the palace. That will throw some light on how there could be a fire at the place. Being within hearing distance of the immediate presence of the high priest, it gave Peter an opportunity to “see the end” (Mat 26:58).
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
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.
[For it was cold.] It was the very dead of night, almost at cockcrowing. Our countryman Biddulph, who was at Jerusalem at the very time when they were wont to celebrate the Passover, gives us the reason of this cold by his own experience. He acknowledgeth indeed that he found it so hot at that time as we usually feel it in our own country about midsummer, that he could not but wonder how Peter, at that time of the year, should be so cold. But within a few days his doubt was resolved, for there were mighty dews fell, which not being wholly dried up by the sun made it very cold, especially in the night, etc.
Nay, the traditional fathers suppose there may be frost and snow in the time of Passover, by that canon of theirs: “They do not intercalate the year either for snow or for frost.”
The intercalation of the year respected chiefly the Paschal solemnity; namely, that by the interposing of the intercalated month all things might be ripe and fit for that feast. If when it came to the month Nisan the barley was not yet ripe enough to offer the sheaf of the first fruits, then they put a month between, which they called the second Adar. So if the ways were so bad that people could not travel up to Jerusalem, if the bridges were so broken that they could not pass the rivers, they intercalated or put a month between, that at the coming in of the month Nisan every thing might be ready that was requisite for the Paschal solemnity. But if frost or snow should happen when Nisan was entering in its ordinary course, they did not put a month between upon that account. From whence it is plain that frost and snow did sometimes happen at that time.
Fuente: Lightfoot Commentary Gospels
Joh 18:18. And the servants and the officers were standing there, having made a fire of charcoal; for it was cold, and they were warning themselves; and Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself. These servants and officers, it must be remembered, are those who had so recently laid hold of Jesus, and who were the instruments of His sufferings. They had made a fire of charcoal, a circumstance in itself exceedingly natural in the cold of that spring night; and at it they stood and warmed themselves. Peter also with them was standing and warming himself. Such seems at first to be the sole meaning of the words: but the clause for it was cold, reminding us of chap. Joh 10:22 and chap. Joh 13:30, forces upon us the impression that the Evangelist has something more in view than the simple fact apparent to the first glance at the words employed by him. The fact is historical. We know that even from the other Gospels. But it is more than historical. To the symbolic eye of John it has a deeper meaning. In this night of cold he sees Peter associating himself with the enemies of Jesus, perhaps consulting his own comfort while his Master suffers, at all events putting himself in a position where the faithlessness that had already led to his first denial must gain strength; and he thus prepares us to expect that the sin of which he has been already guilty may, probably will, be followed by a still greater fall. Whether this idea is brought out also by the fire of charcoal is more difficult to say. It seems not unlikely that it is, for the word is not used by the other Evangelists; coals of charcoal are in the Old Testament one of the symbols of Divine judgment (Psa 18:13; Psa 120:4; Psa 140:10); and this symbolic meaning may be extended to chap. Joh 21:9, the only other passage of the New Testament where we find the word. Apart from this, however, there is enough to show that Joh 18:18 is not simply historical. The peculiar spirit of the Evangelist appears in it, and we have thus the less occasion for surprise if we meet in the narrative other traces of the same spirit.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Peter not only denied Jesus, but He also stood with Jesus’ enemies as they warmed themselves in the courtyard of the high priest’s large residence. The detail that the fire was a charcoal (Gr. anthrakia) one will feature later in John’s narrative (21:9). Such a fire would not have generated much light or heat, so those who wanted to stay warm had to stand close together.