Luke 22:55

And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(55) When they had kindled a fire.—The fire is mentioned by St. Luke in common with St. Mark and St. John.

Of the hall.—Better, of the court-yard—“hall” with us conveying the idea of a covered space inside the house.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

22:54-62 Peter's fall was his denying that he knew Christ, and was his disciple; disowning him because of distress and danger. He that has once told a lie, is strongly tempted to persist: the beginning of that sin, like strife, is as the letting forth of water. The Lord turned and looked upon Peter. 1. It was a convincing look. Jesus turned and looked upon him, as if he should say, Dost thou not know me, Peter? 2. It was a chiding look. Let us think with what a rebuking countenance Christ may justly look upon us when we have sinned. 3. It was an expostulating look. Thou who wast the most forward to confess me to be the Son of God, and didst solemnly promise thou wouldest never disown me! 4. It was a compassionate look. Peter, how art thou fallen and undone if I do not help thee! 5. It was a directing look, to go and bethink himself. 6. It was a significant look; it signified the conveying of grace to Peter's heart, to enable him to repent. The grace of God works in and by the word of God, brings that to mind, and sets that home upon the conscience, and so gives the soul the happy turn. Christ looked upon the chief priests, and made no impression upon them as he did on Peter. It was not the mere look from Christ, but the Divine grace with it, that restored Peter.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See the notes at Matthew 26:57-75.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Lu 22:55-62. Jesus before Caiaphas—Fall of Peter.

The particulars of these two sections require a combination of all the narratives, for which see on [1727]Joh 18:1-27.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

See Poole on "Luke 22:54"

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall,.... It being cold in the night time, though it was at the passover, and the beginning of harvest, the servants and officers of the high priest made a fire in the middle of the hall, whilst Jesus was examining before the sanhedrim, at the other end of it:

and were sat down together; about it, as the Syriac version adds, to warm themselves:

Peter sat down among them; for the same purpose, and as if he was one of them; and which he might do, not only to warm himself, but to prevent his being taken notice of, and suspected; as he might have been, had he been loitering about.

Geneva Study Bible

And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Luke 22:55. περιαψάντων, more strongly than ἁψάντων (T.R.) suggests the idea of a well-kindled fire giving a good blaze, supplying light as well as heat. Who kindled it did not need to be said. It was kindled in the open court of the high priest’s house, and was large enough for the attendants to sit around it in the chilly spring night (συγκαθισάντων).—μέσος αὐτῶν. Peter sat among them. Was that an acted denial, or was he simply seeking warmth, and taking his risk?

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

55. they had kindled a fire] The spring nights at Jerusalem, which is 2610 feet above the level of the sea, are often cold.

in the midst of the hall] Rather, of the court.

sat down among them] i.e. among the servants of the High Priest— sat in the middle (mesos) of a group composed of the very men who had just been engaged more or less directly in the arrest of His Lord.

It was like the impetuosity of his character, but most unwise for one of his temperament. St John says (John 18:18) that ‘he stood,’ and perhaps we have here a touch of restlessness.

a certain maid] Apparently the portress (John 18:17) who had been meanwhile relieved, and who, after a fixed gaze, recognised Peter as the man whom she had admitted. She therefore exclaimed, “This fellow too (as well as John) was with Him.” The reports of the Evangelists differ, but each faithfully preserves the kai.

a certain maid beheld him] The accounts of these denials by the Evangelists are (as St Augustine says of their narratives generally) “various, but not contrary.” They are capable of perfectly easy and perfectly natural reconcilement, and are a valuable proof of independence.

Bengel's Gnomen

Luke 22:55. Ἐν μέσῳ, in the midst) as the place admitted.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 55. - And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. We know that the arrest in Gethsemane was followed by the flight of the eleven apostles. John and Peter, however, once out of reach of the armed band, seem in some way to have recovered from their first panic, and to have followed their Master and his guards into the city. Arrived at the high priest's house, John, who was known to the high priest, had no difficulty in procuring admission for himself and his companion. Peter's motive in pressing into what he knew for him was a locality full of peril, is given by St. Matthew (Matthew 26:58), "to see the end." There was no doubt there was in the heart of the impulsive, loving man, sorrowful anxiety and deep sorrow for his dear Master's fate. But, alas! with the feverish sad expectation to see what he felt would be the end, there was no earnest prayer for guidance and help. The fire is mentioned because, generally speaking, the nights in the Holy Land about the Passover season are warm. The cold on this night appears to be spoken of as something unusual. Peter sat down among them. "St. John (it must be supposed) had passed on into the audience-chamber, so that St. Peter was alone. St. John, who remained closest to the Lord, was unmolested; St. Peter, who mingled with the indifferent crowd, fell" (Westcott). Luke 22:55

Vincent's Word Studies

Kindled (περιαψάντων)

Lit., kindled all round (περί): set in full blaze.

Hall

Or court. See on Mark 14:54.