John took his readers back to the courtyard where Peter stood warming himself with the high priest's servants and officers (v. 18).
18:25 Under pressure again, Peter denied for a second time that he was one of Jesus' disciples as the "other disciple"was (cf. Matt. 10:33; Luke 12:9). The person who voiced the question was another girl (Matt. 26:71; Mark 14:69).
"John has constructed a dramatic contrast wherein Jesus stands up to his questioners and denies nothing, while Peter cowers before his questioners and denies everything."541
18:26-27 The third questioner was a relative of Malchus whose ear Peter had cut off in Gethsemane (v. 10). Only John recorded the relationship. This fact supports the view that the "other disciple"was John. He knew the relationships of people within the high priest's household.
The accuser also identified Peter as a Galilean (Matt. 26:73; Mark 14:70; Luke 22:59). His question expected a positive answer in contrast to the former two that expected a negative answer. It posed the greatest threat to Peter's security. Peter responded by uttering his most vehement denial. Immediately a cock crowed (for the second time, Mark 14:72) fulfilling the prediction that Jesus had spoken just hours earlier (13:38). John also omitted Peter's oaths and curses (cf. Matt. 26:74; Mark 14:71), Jesus' convicting look (Luke 22:61), and Peter's bitter tears of contrition (cf. Matt. 26:75; Mark 14:75; Luke 22:62). The effect is that the fulfillment of Jesus' prediction receives the emphasis.
The encouraging record of Peter's restoration to fellowship and usefulness follows in chapter 21.
