Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 26:58

"But Peter followed him afar off, unto the court of the high priest, and entered in, and sat with the officers, to see the end." — Matthew 26:58 (ASV)

Peter followed him from a distance. By this he demonstrated two things:

1. Real attachment to his Master; a desire to be near him, and to witness his trial.
2. Fear for his personal safety. He therefore kept far enough away to be out of danger, yet near enough to witness the events concerning his Master. Perhaps he expected to be lost and unobserved in the crowd.

Many, in this, imitate Peter. They are afraid to follow the Savior closely. They fear danger, ridicule, or persecution. They follow him—but it is at a great distance; so far that it is difficult to discern that they are among his followers, and are his friends at all.

Religion requires us to be near to Christ. We may measure our piety by our desire to be with him, to be like him, and by our willingness to follow him always—through trials, contempt, persecution, and death.

John says that another disciple went with Peter. It is commonly supposed that by "that other disciple," since he did not mention his name, John meant himself. He was acquainted with the high priest and went immediately into the hall.

Unto the High Priest's palace. The word translated palace means rather the hall, or middle court or area of his house. It was situated in the center of the palace and was commonly uncovered. (See the notes on Matthew 9:2).

And went in. John informs us that he did not go immediately in. But the other disciple, being known to the high priest, went in first, while Peter remained at the gate, or entrance. The other disciple then went out and brought in Peter. Matthew, Mark, and Luke have omitted this circumstance. John recorded it, probably, because they had omitted it and because he was the "other disciple" concerned in it.

Sat with the servants, to see the end. That is, the end of the trial, or to see how it would go with his Master.

The other evangelists say that he stood with the servants warming himself. John says that, it being cold, they had made a fire of coals and warmed themselves.

It was then probably not far from midnight. The place where they were was uncovered; and travelers say that though the days are warm in Judea at that season of the year, the nights are often uncomfortably cold.

This fire was made in the hall (Luke). The fire was not in a fireplace, as we commonly suppose, but was probably made of coals laid on the pavement.

At this place and time was Peter's first denial of his Lord, as is recorded afterwards. .