Luke 22:56 kjv
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.
Luke 22:56 nkjv
And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, "This man was also with Him."
Luke 22:56 niv
A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, "This man was with him."
Luke 22:56 esv
Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, "This man also was with him."
Luke 22:56 nlt
A servant girl noticed him in the firelight and began staring at him. Finally she said, "This man was one of Jesus' followers!"
Luke 22 56 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 26:69-70 | Now Peter was sitting outside...a servant girl came up to him and said, "You also were with Jesus..." He denied it before them all... | Parallel account of Peter's first denial. |
| Mark 14:66-68 | As Peter was below in the courtyard...a servant girl...said to Peter, "You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus." But he denied it... | Another parallel account. |
| John 18:15-18 | Simon Peter...followed Jesus...And Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, "You are not also one of this man's disciples, are you?" He said, "I am not." | Peter's first denial in John's Gospel. |
| Luke 22:34 | And He said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow...before you deny Me three times." | Jesus' prophecy of Peter's denial. |
| Matt 26:34 | Jesus said to him, "Truly, I say to you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." | Jesus' prophecy in Matthew. |
| Mark 14:30 | And Jesus said to him, "Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times." | Jesus' prophecy in Mark. |
| John 13:38 | Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied Me three times." | Jesus' prophecy in John. |
| Luke 22:61-62 | And the Lord turned and looked at Peter...Peter remembered...And he went out and wept bitterly. | Peter's immediate repentance after denial. |
| John 21:15-17 | "Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord, You know that I love You." ...Jesus said to him, "Feed My lambs." | Peter's restoration after the resurrection. |
| Matt 10:32-33 | "So everyone who acknowledges Me before men, I also will acknowledge before My Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies Me before men, I also will deny before My Father..." | Consequence of denying or confessing Christ. |
| Luke 12:8-9 | "And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges Me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, but the one who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God." | Parallel to Matthew 10:32-33. |
| 2 Tim 2:12 | if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He also will deny us; | Warning against denying Christ. |
| Prov 29:25 | The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe. | Contrast of fear of man with trust in God. |
| Isa 51:12-13 | "I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies...?" | Divine perspective on fearing mortals. |
| Acts 4:13 | Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. | Early church followers being recognized for their association with Jesus, now with boldness. |
| Jas 1:13-14 | Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil...But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. | Explanation of temptation, relevant to Peter's fear. |
| 1 Pet 4:12 | Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. | Understanding trials (Peter warmed himself by a fire). |
| 1 Cor 10:12 | Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. | Warning against overconfidence. |
| Psa 118:6 | The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? | Confidence in God contrasted with Peter's fear. |
| Gal 5:26 | Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. | Applies to Peter's pre-denial overconfidence. |
| Jer 17:9 | The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? | Human heart's propensity to fail. |
| John 3:19-20 | And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light...for everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light... | Peter, in darkness, seeks warmth from a fire, bringing him into partial light where he is exposed. |
Luke 22 verses
Luke 22 56 Meaning
Luke 22:56 recounts the initial instance of Peter's denial of Jesus, as a servant girl in the high priest's courtyard identifies him by association with the recently arrested Christ. Her sharp observation and direct accusation place Peter under immediate scrutiny, leading to his first unfaithful declaration. This moment starkly contrasts with Peter's earlier fervent commitment, revealing human frailty under pressure and the vulnerability of even devoted followers.
Luke 22 56 Context
Luke 22:56 is set immediately following Jesus' arrest in Gethsemane and His being led to the high priest's house. Peter, who had earlier boldly proclaimed his willingness to die for Jesus (Luke 22:33), secretly follows the procession and finds himself in the high priest's courtyard. The context involves a late-night, illegal trial of Jesus. Peter is drawn to the warmth of a fire on a cold night, which inadvertently places him within clear sight, making him vulnerable to recognition. This verse initiates the fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy in Luke 22:34 regarding Peter's threefold denial. The surrounding atmosphere is tense, chaotic, and dangerous for anyone associated with Jesus, leading to the psychological pressure on Peter.
Luke 22 56 Word analysis
- And a certain servant girl: Greek: kai paidiskē tis (καὶ παιδίσκη τις). The word paidiskē refers to a young female servant, typically a slave. This highlights the humility of the agent of Peter's downfall. His fear is so great he buckles under the pressure from a person of low social standing, emphasizing the depth of his temporary moral failure. It also suggests that even common people knew who followed Jesus.
- seeing him: Greek: idousa auton (ἰδοῦσα αὐτόν). From horao (ὁράω), to perceive with the eyes, to behold. This is a simple visual perception, setting the stage for deeper observation. Peter's attempt at anonymity is thwarted by direct sight.
- as he sat by the fire: Greek: kathēmenon pros to phōs (καθήμενον πρὸς τὸ φῶς). Literally, "sitting towards the light/fire." The "fire" (phōs, here meaning light or warmth from fire) creates a source of light in the darkness, inadvertently illuminating Peter and making him easily identifiable. It also serves as a poignant contrast: Peter seeking physical warmth, but spiritually growing cold in his loyalty.
- looked intently at him: Greek: atenisas autō (ἀτενίσας αὐτῷ). From atenizō (ἀτενίζω), meaning "to gaze fixedly, to stare, to look intently." This is more than a casual glance; it implies deliberate, focused scrutiny. The servant girl is not merely recognizing a face but verifying an identity. This intense gaze likely heightened Peter's anxiety and sense of exposure.
- and said: Greek: eipen (εἶπεν). A direct and simple statement, highlighting the swiftness and directness of her accusation.
- This man also: Greek: Kai houtos en met' autou (Καὶ οὗτος ἦν μετ' αὐτοῦ). The phrase "Kai houtos" (And this man) emphatically points out Peter. The word kai here can imply "also" or "even," signifying that Peter too was one of Jesus' followers.
- was with him: Greek: ēn met' autou (ἦν μετ' αὐτοῦ). This simple phrase signifies association, companionship, and discipleship. It encapsulates the core accusation: Peter's identity as a follower of Jesus. "Met'" implies "with" or "alongside."
Luke 22 56 Bonus section
The seemingly trivial detail of a "servant girl" being the accuser holds profound significance. It is not a Roman soldier or a powerful Jewish leader who initially confronts Peter, but a young, socially subordinate female. This makes Peter's subsequent denial all the more striking and highlights the depth of his fear. His prior boast of readiness for prison and death contrasts sharply with his retreat from a seemingly minor threat, revealing that the "fear of man" can ensnare even the most zealous disciple. The fire itself is symbolic; it provides comfort and visibility, yet in Peter's case, it brought him into a light where his hidden allegiance could be exposed, forcing a choice he was not yet spiritually prepared to make.
Luke 22 56 Commentary
Luke 22:56 captures the initial faltering steps in Peter's spiritual journey during a moment of intense pressure. His choice to warm himself by the fire provided a visible platform for the servant girl's intense scrutiny. Her identification, driven by observation, placed Peter in a compromised position. This detail underlines Peter's human weakness, a stark contrast to his earlier confident declaration. The denial of association with Christ is a common temptation for believers under persecution, showing that courage in speech does not always translate to courage in action, especially when faced with perceived personal danger. This event serves as a critical warning against spiritual complacency and overconfidence. It also sets the stage for Peter's subsequent denials and, ultimately, his profound repentance and restoration, demonstrating that God's grace extends even to those who fail under duress.