John 18:17

Syriac Peshitta (NT Only)

ܐܶܡܪܰܬ݂ ܕ݁ܶܝܢ ܥܠܰܝܡܬ݂ܳܐ ܢܳܛܪܰܬ݂ ܬ݁ܰܪܥܳܐ ܠܫܶܡܥܽܘܢ ܠܡܳܐ ܐܳܦ݂ ܐܰܢ݈ܬ݁ ܡܶܢ ܬ݁ܰܠܡܺܝܕ݂ܰܘܗ݈ܝ ܐܰܢ݈ܬ݁ ܕ݁ܗܳܢܳܐ ܓ݁ܰܒ݂ܪܳܐ ܐܳܡܰܪ ܠܳܗ ܠܳܐ ܀

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the damsel: John 18:16, Matthew 26:69, Matthew 26:70, Mark 14:66-68, Luke 22:54, Luke 22:56, Luke 22:57

I am not: John 18:5, John 18:8, John 21:15, Matthew 26:33

Reciprocal: Genesis 18:15 - denied Mark 14:30 - before Mark 14:69 - a maid Luke 22:55 - had John 13:38 - The cock John 20:6 - General John 21:16 - the second Acts 1:13 - Peter Acts 4:13 - they took

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter,.... She being relieved, either by her father, if porter, or by a fellow servant, had the opportunity of coming into the hall, where Peter was, and was curious to observe him, who he should be, that that person of note should order him to be admitted, when an affair of so much privacy and importance was transacting; and either by Peter's language, or the trouble that appeared in his countenance, or fancying: she had seen him in the temple, or in some part of the city in company With Jesus, addresses him after this manner:

art not thou also one of this man's disciples? She speaks of Christ in the vulgar dialect of the Jews, calling him "this man"; not only esteeming him a mere man, but a worthless man; and knowing he had disciples, challenges him as one of them; when he, all in flight and surprise, not expecting such a question to be put to him, without any further thought, rashly and suddenly

he saith I am not: he never denied that Christ was God or the Son of God, or that he was come in the flesh, or that he was the Messiah and Saviour of sinners; but either that he did not know what the maid said, or the person she spoke of; or, as here, that he was one of his disciples; which was a very great untruth: and many are the aggravations of his fall; which came to pass as soon as ever he was entered almost; and that by the means of a maid, a servant maid, a very inferior one; and at first perhaps they were alone; and the question put to him might not be in a virulent way, nor proceed from malice, but commiseration of him; and yet he had not resolution enough to own himself a disciple of Jesus; which he might have done, and in all likelihood might have gone safe off directly: but he that had so much confidence as to say, though all men deny thee, yet will not I; and had so much courage, as, in the face of a band of soldiers, to draw his sword, and smite one of the high priest's servants, but a few hours before, has not spirit enough in him to own his master before a servant maid!

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See the notes at Matthew 26:57-58.

Another disciple - Not improbably John. Some critics, however, have supposed that this disciple was one who dwelt at Jerusalem, and who, not being a Galilean, could enter the palace without suspicion. John, however, mentions the circumstance of his being known to them, to show why it was that he was not questioned as Peter was. It is not probable that any danger resulted from its being known that he was a follower of Jesus, or that any harm was meditated on them for this. The questions asked Peter were not asked by those in authority, and his apprehensions which led to his denial were groundless.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse John 18:17. 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 2Sa 4:6, both the Septuagint and Vulgate make a woman porter to Ishbosheth. ARISTOPHANES, in Vespis,John 18:0v. 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. Matthew 26:69.