Meanwhile, Peter followed him at a distance and came to the high priest’s courtyard. He went in and sat with the guards and waited to see how it would all end.
Parallel translations
- WEB But Peter followed him from a distance, to the court of the high priest, and entered in and sat with the officers, to see the end.
- KJV But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest’s palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.
- BSB But Peter followed Him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. And he went in and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.
- NKJV But Peter followed Him at a distance to the high priest’s courtyard. And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end.
- NASB But Peter was following Him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and he came inside and sat down with the officers to see the outcome.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Peter follows at a distance and sits with the officers to see the outcome. His cautious following sets the scene for his denial.
Overview
Peter, unlike the others who fled, follows Jesus but only from afar, lingering in the courtyard. His half-hearted nearness, neither bold confession nor full flight, exposes his vulnerability. The detail prepares for his coming denial and stands as a warning about following Christ at a safe distance.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- John 7:32The Pharisees heard the multitude murmuring these things concerning him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to arrest him.
- John 18:15–16Simon Peter followed Jesus, as did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered in with Jesus into the court of the high priest;
- John 18:25Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said therefore to him, “You aren’t also one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it, and said, “I am not.”
- John 7:45The officers therefore came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, “Why didn’t you bring him?”
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
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Original language
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