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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Joh_18:15-18
15Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so was another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest, 16but Peter was standing at the door outside. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter in. 17Then the slave-girl who kept the door said to Peter, "You are not also one of this man's disciples, are you?" He said, "I am not." 18Now the slaves and the officers were standing there, having made a charcoal fire, for it was cold and they were warming themselves; and Peter was also with them, standing and warming himself.
Joh_18:15 "Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so was another disciple" There has been much discussion as to the identity of this other disciple.
1. The traditional theory has been that it is the Apostle John because of a similar phrase used of him in Joh_20:2-4; Joh_20:8. Also, another possible connection is with Joh_19:25, which names John's mother, who could possibly be a sister of Mary, which means he may have been a Levite and, therefore, from a priestly family (cf. Polycarp's testimony).
2. This may have been a local unnamed follower like Nicodemus or Joseph of Arimathea because of their association with the high priest and his family (cf. Joh_18:15-16).
▣ "Now that disciple was known to the high priest" This is a very strong term for "acquaintance" and seems to mean a "close friend" (cf. Luk_2:44; Luk_23:49). If John, this may relate to his fishing business which would have involved his family in regularly bringing fish to Jerusalem.
Joh_18:17 "the slave-girl who kept the door said to Peter, 'You are not also one of this man's disciples, are you'" This grammatical form, like Joh_18:25, expects a "no" answer. It shows the contempt of those involved by not using Jesus' name. She may have asked this because of (1) Peter's connection with John or (2) Peter's Galilean accent.
▣ "I am not" Peter may have been prepared to die for Jesus, but he was not prepared to truthfully answer the question of a slave girl! In the Synoptic Gospels these three denials are placed together, but in John they are separated by the questioning of Jesus by Annas (cf. Joh_18:24).
Peter's "I am" statement is the exact opposite of Jesus' "I am" statement" (cf. Joh_18:5).
Joh_18:18 This story is told with such vivid eyewitness details. Both Joh_18:18; Joh_18:25 have two periphrastic imperfects.