Bible Strands
John 18:17
At this, the servant girl watching the door said to Peter, “Aren’t you also one of this man’s disciples?” “I am not,” he answered.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The doorkeeper’s servant girl questions Peter as he enters the high priest’s courtyard, and Peter directly replies to her. This exchange occurs immediately after the disciple known to the high priest brings Peter inside (John 18:16) and before Peter stands by the charcoal fire with the officers (John 18:18).
The words — The Greek θυρωρός (thurōros) literally means “doorkeeper” and stands in apposition to παιδίσκη (paidiskē), identifying the servant girl herself as the one guarding the entrance. The verb λέγει (legei) simply records her direct question, while Peter’s response uses the negative οὐ (ou) to deny association.
The thread — This courtyard confrontation matches the denial sequence in Matthew 26:69 and Mark 14:66, where a servant girl questions Peter about his connection to Jesus. It directly precedes his physical denial in John 18:18 and contrasts with his earlier vow never to fall away in Matthew 26:33.
Why it lands — The text records a clear verbal denial of Jesus under direct questioning. It requires the reader to observe how quickly a spoken commitment can be abandoned when faced with immediate social pressure.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Matthew 26:69 Meanwhile, Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came up to him. “You also were with Jesus the Galilean,” she said.
- Matthew 26:33 Peter said to Him, “Even if all fall away on account of You, I never will.”
- Mark 14:66 While Peter was in the courtyard below, one of the servant girls of the high priest came down
- Luke 22:54 Then they seized Jesus, led Him away, and took Him into the house of the high priest. And Peter followed at a distance.
- Luke 22:56 A servant girl saw him seated in the firelight and looked intently at him. “This man also was with Him,” she said.
- John 18:16 But Peter stood outside at the door. Then the disciple who was known to the high priest went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter in.
- John 18:25 Simon Peter was still standing and warming himself. So they asked him, “Aren’t you also one of His disciples?” He denied it and said, “I am not.”
- John 21:15 When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus replied, “Feed My lambs.”
- John 18:5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered. Jesus said, “I am He.” And Judas His betrayer was standing there with them.
- John 18:8 “I told you that I am He,” Jesus replied. “So if you are looking for Me, let these men go.”