John 18 17

John 18:17 kjv

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.

John 18:17 nkjv

Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, "You are not also one of this Man's disciples, are you?" He said, "I am not."

John 18:17 niv

"You aren't one of this man's disciples too, are you?" she asked Peter. He replied, "I am not."

John 18:17 esv

The servant girl at the door said to Peter, "You also are not one of this man's disciples, are you?" He said, "I am not."

John 18:17 nlt

The woman asked Peter, "You're not one of that man's disciples, are you?" "No," he said, "I am not."

John 18 verses

John 18 17 Meaning

This verse marks the initiation of Peter's predicted denial of Jesus, confronted by a humble servant girl in the high priest's courtyard. It exposes the profound gap between Peter's earlier confident boasts of loyalty and his actual response under pressure, driven by the immediate danger of associating with an accused Jesus. The question forces Peter to make a public declaration of allegiance at a moment when such a confession carries severe risk, highlighting the true cost of discipleship.

John 18 17 Context

John 18 recounts Jesus' arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane and His initial appearance before Annas, the influential father-in-law of the current High Priest Caiaphas. Following Jesus "at a distance" (v.15), Peter is granted entry into the high priest's courtyard by the "other disciple" (traditionally John), who was known there. Inside, Peter warms himself by a charcoal fire among the servants and officers, attempting to blend in unnoticed amidst Jesus' captors. This tense environment sets the stage for his direct confrontation by the doorkeeping servant girl, which immediately follows Peter's entrance into this hostile, surveilled space.

John 18 17 Word analysis

• Then (οὖν, oun): A transitional particle that connects the present action to Peter's immediate preceding act of entering the courtyard. It signifies a consequence or continuation, marking this as the direct outcome of Peter's decision to follow.
• the servant girl (ἡ παιδίσκη, hē paidiskē): Refers to a young female slave or maid. Her low social status in the household contrasts sharply with Peter's apostolic calling, amplifying the profound shame of his denial and the ironic nature of the challenge. This highlights that significant tests of faith can come from seemingly insignificant sources.
• who kept the door (ἡ θυρωρὸς, hē thurōros): Describes her specific, yet crucial, role as a doorkeeper or portress. Her position gave her a small measure of authority, enabling her to directly challenge Peter upon his entry into the inner court, preventing him from remaining entirely anonymous.
• said to Peter (τῷ Πέτρῳ, tō Petrō): This direct address implies she singled him out. It underscores the personal and public nature of the challenge to Peter, leaving no room for equivocation.
• 'You are not also (Σὺ οὐχὶ καὶ σύ, Sy ouchi kai sy):
  • Σὺ οὐχὶ (Sy ouchi): The strong negative interrogative 'ouchi' indicates a question that expects an affirmative answer, suggesting that the servant girl strongly suspected or implicitly believed Peter was a disciple. It's akin to saying, "Surely you aren't..." or "You are not..., are you?"
  • καὶ σύ (kai sy): Means "you also" or "you too," connecting Peter directly to the "other disciple" (John) who just entered and was explicitly known to be associated with Jesus (v.15). This link reinforces her suspicion or direct identification.
• one of this Man's disciples (ἐκ τῶν μαθητῶν εἶ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου τούτου, ek tōn mathētōn ei tou anthrōpou toutou):
  • μαθητῶν (mathētōn): "Disciples," those who learn from and follow a master, indicating committed followership. Identifying with Jesus at this point meant public affiliation with someone accused of sedition, thus a profound personal risk.
  • τοῦ ἀνθρώπου τούτου (tou anthrōpou toutou): "This Man," a rather impersonal or potentially dismissive way to refer to Jesus during His trial. It avoided calling Him by name or title, possibly to sound neutral or to show subtle disdain in a hostile environment, treating Him as a mere accused commoner.
• are you?: Implied by the Greek grammatical structure of the strong negative interrogative.

Words-group analysis

• "the servant girl who kept the door": This phrase highlights the unassuming nature of Peter's initial test. It's not a powerful figure but a seemingly insignificant individual who poses the crucial question, emphasizing that integrity and loyalty can be tried in the smallest of circumstances.
• "You are not also one of this Man's disciples, are you?": This question is a direct challenge to Peter's identity and allegiance. It frames the choice between personal safety and open identification with Jesus, the accused. The implication that she expected an affirmative answer made the denial even more forceful and definitive.

John 18 17 Bonus section

• Polemics against Self-Reliance: This passage implicitly challenges any notion of absolute self-confidence or reliance on one's own strength in spiritual matters. Peter's failure demonstrates the precariousness of human resolve apart from divine grace, especially when facing social or physical peril.
• Irony of the Test: It is dramatically ironic that the Apostle to whom Jesus entrusted the "keys of the kingdom" (Mt 16:19) is found lacking when challenged by a literal doorkeeper in an earthly household. This highlights the disjunction between spiritual authority and the constant struggle of human weakness.
• John's Unique Detail: The Gospel of John uniquely notes that the "other disciple" (traditionally John) used his connection to the High Priest to facilitate Peter's entry. This detail adds a layer of shared responsibility for Peter's predicament in the hostile environment, as Peter was present specifically because John had secured his entry.

John 18 17 Commentary

John 18:17 records the painful inaugural fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy concerning Peter's denial. Moments after exhibiting misguided bravado with a sword in the garden, Peter crumbles under the comparatively gentle, yet deeply penetrating, interrogation of a lowly doorkeeper. This immediate and stark contrast between his self-proclaimed loyalty ("I will lay down my life for you," John 13:37) and his actual, fearful response, powerfully underscores human frailty and the subtle, yet potent, pressures against openly confessing Christ. Peter's attempt to warm himself by a fire with the opposition reveals a strategic effort to blend in, an effort immediately thwarted by the servant girl's observation and pointed question. His subsequent denial indicates that fear of association and potential persecution overrode his immediate devotion, serving as a solemn reminder that a true walk with Christ often necessitates unwavering public identification, regardless of personal cost.