Luke 22:54

Having seized him, they led him to the high priest's house. By high priest, he means Caiaphas, who was the high priest that year, as the evangelist John testifies.

Peter, however, followed from a distance. He rightfully followed from afar, for he was already close to denying. For he could not deny if he had adhered closely to Christ. But in this, he is most worthy of our admiration, that he did not abandon …

Otherwise: when Peter followed the Lord going to His passion from a distance, it symbolized the Church, which indeed would follow, that is, imitate the passions of the Lord, but in a much different way. For the Church suffers for itself, but He suffered for …

But that when our Lord was going to His Passion, Peter followed afar off represents the Church about to follow indeed, that is, to imitate our Lord's Passion, but in a far different manner, for the Church suffers for herself, our Lord suffered for the Church.

Then took they him, and led him,....

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.

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.