Luke 22:56
in Luke 22A servant girl saw him seated in the firelight and looked intently at him. “This man also was with Him,” she said.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And a certain maid seeing him as he sat in the light of the fire, and looking stedfastly upon him, said, This man also was with him.
KJV
But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.
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This verse in Luke 22
Commentary
11 notes on this verseWhat does it mean that the first witness proclaims him, when men could certainly recognize him more; unless it seemed that this sex had sinned unto the death of the Lord, so that this sex might be redeemed through the passion of the Lord? And therefore, the woman receives the first mystery of the resurrection, and she keeps the commandments; in order to abolish the ancient error of transgression.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
(ut sup.) What ails thee, Peter, thy voice is suddenly changed? That mouth full of faith and love, is turned to hatred and unbelief. Not yet awhile is the scourge applied, not yet the instruments of torture. Thy interrogator is no one of authority, who might cause alarm to the confessor. The mere voice of a woman asks the question, and she perhaps not about to divulge thy confession, nor yet a woman, but a door-keeper, a mean slave.
What meaneth it, that a maid is the first to betray Peter, whereas surely men ought the more easily to have recognised him, save that that sex should be plainly implicated in our Lord's murder, in order that it might also be redeemed by His Passion? But Peter when discovered denies, for better that Peter should have denied, than our Lord's word should have failed. Hence it follows, And he denied, saying, Woman, I know him not.
We do not say that the denial took place in order that Christ's words might come true. We say rather that his object was to forewarn the disciple, inasmuch as what was about to happen did not escape Christ's knowledge. The misfortune, therefore, happened to the disciple from the cowardice of human nature. Since Christ had not risen from the dead, he had not yet abolished death and wiped corruption away. The fear of undergoing death was something beyond human endurance.
The Medieval Church2 voices
When a certain servant girl saw him sitting in the light and looked closely at him, she said, "This man was also with him." Why is it that the servant girl is the first to betray him, when surely men could have recognized him more …
(App. Serm. 79.) For to Peter were delivered the keys of the kingdom of heaven, to him were entrusted an innumerable multitude of people, who were wrapped up in sin. But Peter was somewhat too vehement, as the cutting off the car of the High Priest's servant betokens. If he then who was so stern and so severe had obtained the gift of not sinning, what pardon would he have given to the people committed to him? Therefore Divine Providence suffers him first to be holden of sin, that by the consciousness of his own fall he might soften his too harsh judgment towards sinners. When he wished to warm himself at the fire, a maid came to him, of whom it follows, But a certain maid beheld him, &c.
5 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
Second, as regards the fragility of Peter in denying, he adds: When a certain maidservant had seen him sitting by the light and had gazed upon him, she said: This man also was with him. But he denied him, saying: Woman, I do not know …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
But a certain maid beheld him,.... Looked upon him, and took notice of him, and observed his countenance and gesture: as he sat by the fire; or light; See Gill on Mar 14:
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A certain maid beheld him - Or, Attentively beholding him, ατενισασα. And this she did by the help of the light of the fire at which Peter sat.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
proposed
The verses we have now read, describe the fall of the apostle Peter. It is a passage which is deeply humbling to the pride of man, but singularly instructive to true Christians. The fall of Peter has been a beacon to the Church, and has probably preserved myriads of souls from destruction. It is a passage which supplies strong proof that the Bible is inspired, and that Christianity is from God.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
proposed
The verses we have now read, describe the fall of the apostle Peter. It is a passage which is deeply humbling to the pride of man, but singularly instructive to true Christians. The fall of Peter has been a beacon to the Church, and has probably preserved myriads of souls from destruction. It is a passage which supplies strong proof that the Bible is inspired, and that Christianity is from God. If the Christian religion had been the invention of uninspired men — then its first historians would never have told us that one of the chief apostles denied his Master three times. The story of Peter's fall teaches us, firstly — how small and gradual are the steps by which men may go down into great sins. The various steps in Peter's fall, are clearly marked out by the Gospel-writers. They ought always to be observed in reading this part of the apostle's history. The first step was proud self-confidence . Though all denied Christ — yet he never would! He was ready to go with Him both to prison and to death! The second step was indolent neglect of prayer . When his Master told him to pray, lest he should enter into temptation — he gave way to drowsiness, and was found asleep. The third step was vacillating indecision . When the enemies of Christ came upon Him, Peter first fought, then ran away, then turned again, and finally "followed afar off." The fourth step was mingling with bad company . He went into the high priest's house and sat among the servants by the fire, trying to conceal his religion, and hearing and seeing all kinds of evil. The fifth and last step was the natural consequence of the preceding four. He was overwhelmed with fear when suddenly charged with being a disciple. The snare was round his neck. He could not escape. He plunged deeper into error than ever. He denied his blessed Master three times.
The words behind it
18 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἰδοῦσα | idousa | Having seen | G1492 → | 374 times |
| δὲ | de | then | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| αὐτὸν | auton | him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| παιδίσκη | paidiske | a servant girl | G3814 → | |
| τις | tis | certain | G5100 → | 528 times |
| καθήμενον | kathemenon | sitting | G2521 → | 91 times |
| πρὸς | pros | by | G4314 → | 700 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| φῶς | phos | light | G5457 → | 72 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἀτενίσασα | atenisasa | having looked intently | G816 → | |
| αὐτῷ | auto | on him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| εἶπεν· | eipen | she said; | G2036 → | 925 times |
| καὶ | kai | Also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| οὗτος | houtos | this one | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| σὺν | sun | with | G4862 → | 128 times |
| αὐτῷ | auto | Him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἦν. | en | was. | G1510 → | 2333 times |
ἰδοῦσαHaving seen
idousaG1492 →374 times
δὲthen
deG1161 →2765 times
αὐτὸνhim
autonG846 →5565 times
παιδίσκηa servant girl
paidiskeG3814 →
τιςcertain
tisG5100 →528 times
καθήμενονsitting
kathemenonG2521 →91 times
πρὸςby
prosG4314 →700 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
φῶςlight
phosG5457 →72 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἀτενίσασαhaving looked intently
atenisasaG816 →
αὐτῷon him
autoG846 →5565 times
εἶπεν·she said;
eipenG2036 →925 times
καὶAlso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
οὗτοςthis one
houtosG3778 →1381 times
σὺνwith
sunG4862 →128 times
αὐτῷHim
autoG846 →5565 times
ἦν.was.
enG1510 →2333 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Mark 14:6But Jesus said, “Leave her alone; why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful deed to Me.
it leads to
- Titus 3:14
And our people must also learn to devote themselves to good works in order to meet the pressing needs of others, so that they will not be unfruitful.
- Hebrews 10:24
And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds.
- Hebrews 13:21
equip you with every good thing to do His will. And may He accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
- Matthew 26:10
Aware of this, Jesus asked, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful deed to Me.
- Titus 3:14
Through
Mark 14:17When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve.
it leads to
- Luke 22:14
When the hour had come, Jesus reclined at the table with His apostles.
- Luke 22:14
Through
John 18:17At this, the servant girl watching the door said to Peter, “Aren’t you also one of this man’s disciples?” “I am not,” he answered.
it leads to
- Matthew 26:69–70
Meanwhile, Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came up to him. “You also were with Jesus the Galilean,” she said.
- Matthew 26:69–70
Through
Matthew 26:69Meanwhile, Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came up to him. “You also were with Jesus the Galilean,” she said.
it leads to
- 1 Kings 19:13
When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing…
- Matthew 26:71
When Peter had gone out to the gateway, another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
- 1 Kings 19:13
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies18
On this chapter
About Luke
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Ambrose of Milan, EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 10.73; Ambrose of Milan, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Augustine of Hippo, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Bede, On the Gospel of Luke; Bonaventure, Commentary on Luke, Chapter 22; Cyril of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 149; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748) and Pseudo-Augustine, Catena Aurea by Aquinas.