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Selected Verse: John 18:17 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Joh 18:17 |
King James |
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. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
Then saith the damsel that kept the door--"one of the maids of the high priest," says Mark (Mar 14:66). "When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him and said" (Mar 14:67). Luke is more graphic (Luk 22:56) --She "beheld him as he sat by the fire (literally, 'the light'), and earnestly looked on him (fixed her gaze upon him), and said." "His demeanor and timidity, which must have vividly showed themselves, as it so generally happens, leading to the recognition of him" [OLSHAUSEN].
Art thou not also one of this man's disciples?--that is, thou as well as "that other disciple," whom she knew to be one, but did not challenge, perceiving that he was a privileged person.
He saith, I am not--"He denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest" (Mat 26:70) --a common form of point blank denial; "I know [supply 'Him'] not, neither understand I what thou sayest" (Mar 14:68); "Woman, I know Him not" (Luk 22:57). This was THE FIRST DENIAL. "And he went out into the porch [thinking, perhaps, to steal away], and the cock crew," (Mar 14:68). |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
The damsel (ἡ παιδίσκη)
See on Act 12:13.
Art thou (μὴ σὺ)
The question is put in a negative form, as if expecting a negative answer: thou art not, art thou?
Also
Showing that she recognized John as a disciple. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| Art thou also - As well as the others, one of this man's disciples - She does not appear to have asked with any design to hurt him. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
The damsel that kept the door - Caezarius, a writer quoted by Calmet, says this portress was named Ballila. It is worthy of remark that women, especially old women, were employed by the ancients as porters. In Sa2 4:6, both the Septuagint and Vulgate make a woman porter to Ishbosheth. Aristophanes, in Vespis, v. 765, mentions them in the same office and calls them Σηκις, Sekis, which seems to signify a common maid-servant: -
Ὁτι την θυραν ανεῳξεν ἡ Σηκις λαθρα.
And Euripides, Troad. brings in Hecuba, complaining that she, who was wont to sit upon a throne, is now reduced to the miserable necessity of becoming a porter, or a nurse, in order to get a morsel of bread. And Plautus, Curcul. Act. i. sc. 1, mentions an old woman who was keeper of the gate: -
Anus hic solet cubitare custos janitrix.
Why they, in preference to men, should be pitched upon for this office, I cannot conceive; but we find the usage was common in all ancient nations. See the notes on Mat 26:69. |
68 But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.
57 And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.
68 But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.
70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.
56 But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.
67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.
66 And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest:
13 And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a damsel came to hearken, named Rhoda.
69 Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.
6 And they came thither into the midst of the house, as though they would have fetched wheat; and they smote him under the fifth rib: and Rechab and Baanah his brother escaped.