Mark 14:54

54 Peter followed at a safe distance until they got to the Chief Priest's courtyard, where he mingled with the servants and warmed himself at the fire.

Mark 14:54 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 14:54

And Peter followed him afar off
And did another disciple, perhaps John; ( John 18:15 ) , who having somewhat recovered themselves from their fright, turned back, and followed Jesus, and the company that led him away; keeping at some distance, that they might not be observed, and exposed to danger; and proceeded till they came to Jerusalem, and to the place where the sanhedrim were convened; and the other disciple went in along with Jesus; and Peter afterwards, by his means, got in:

even into the palace of the high priest;
being let in by her that kept the door, at the motion of the other disciple

and he sat with the servants;
as if he was one of them, and had no concern with Jesus:

and warmed himself at the fire;
or "light", as the Greek word signifies, and answers to the Hebrew word (rwa) , by which both: light and fire are expressed; of which, take an instance or two, in the room of many F7:

``a murderer that strikes, his neighbour with a stone, or with iron, and plunges him into water, or into (rwah) , "fire", so that he cannot get out, and dies, is guilty.''

Again F8, a

``book which (rwah) , "fire", takes hold upon on one side, he puts, water on the other; and if it is quenched, it is quenched; if the "fire" takes hold on both sides, he opens it, and reads in it; and if it is quenched, it is quenched: a cloak which "fire" takes hold upon on one side, he puts water on the other side; and if it is quenched, it is quenched; if the "fire" takes hold on it on both sides, he takes, it and wraps himself in it, and if it is quenched, it is quenched.''

So we read F9 of (Mnhyg lv rwa) , "the fire of hell"; and Ur of the Chaldees has its name from the fire, that was worshipped there, as a symbol of the sun: and fire was the (rwa) , or "light", created on the first day, ( Genesis 1:3 ) ; (See Gill on Matthew 26:58).


FOOTNOTES:

F7 Misn. Sanhedrin, c 9. sect 1.
F8 T. Hieros. Sabbat, fol. 15. 4. & T. Bab. Sabbat, fol. 120. 1. Vid. Misn. Avoda Zara, c. 5. sect. 12.
F9 T. Bab. Chagiga, fol. 27. 1.

Mark 14:54 In-Context

52 but he got away, running off naked, leaving them holding the sheet.
53 They led Jesus to the Chief Priest, where the high priests, religious leaders, and scholars had gathered together.
54 Peter followed at a safe distance until they got to the Chief Priest's courtyard, where he mingled with the servants and warmed himself at the fire.
55 The high priests conspiring with the Jewish Council looked high and low for evidence against Jesus by which they could sentence him to death. They found nothing.
56 Plenty of people were willing to bring in false charges, but nothing added up, and they ended up canceling each other out.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.