John 18 Verses 12-18

John 18:12 “Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him, 13 And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year. 14 Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people. 15 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest. 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. 17 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. 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.”

“Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him, 13 And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.”  We are not told why Jesus was first taken to Annas house.  While he was father-in-law to Caiaphas, he was not the high priest. 

“Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.”  While Caiaphas made this prophecy beforehand, I am of the opinion that he did not know the great significance of the prophecy.  I think he thought that if Christ died, then the people would be spared from destruction by the Romans.  Whereas, the truth was that Christ was to die for the elect family of God and thus deliver them from eternal death.   

“And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest.”  The other disciple to which John was referring was not mentioned by name.  However, I believe and I think most people believe that John was referring to himself.  By his being known by the high priest, the other disciple thus gained entry for himself and also for Peter: “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.” 

“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.”  This is the first of the three times that Peter would deny the Lord as the Lord had told Peter that he would deny the Lord three times before the cock crowed.   

“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.”

John 18 Verses 19-24 

John 18:19 “The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. 20 Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. 21 Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said. 22 And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so? 23 Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me? 24 Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.”   

According to verse 24, Annas had sent Jesus bound unto Caiaphas the high priest and then the high priest “asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.  Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.  Why askest thou me? ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said.”  It would be foolish to think the high priest did not know what Jesus had taught.  As Jesus told him, he spake openly to the world; he taught in the synagogue daily, and in the temple; he spoke nothing in secret.  The Lord knew the hypocrisy of the high priest in asking that question.   

“And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so?”  This officer thought he was defending the honor of the high priest, when in fact he was defending the hypocrisy of the high priest.  “Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?”  Thus, the Lord rebuked the servant. 

John 18 Verses 25-27 

John 18:25 “And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not. 26 One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him? 27 Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.”   

In this passage was the 2^nd and 3^rd time that Peter denied the Lord.  According to Mark 14:71 “But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak. 72 And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.”  With this Peter fulfilled that which the Lord had told him he would do and to which Peter denied he would do.  This was not to be the end of the matter, as the Lord would address this issue with Peter after His resurrection.