A relatively brief interrogation of Jesus by the high priest (vv. 19–24) is framed by a two-part account of Peter’s denial (vv. 15–18, 25–27). The division of the denial into two scenes follows a precedent reflected in Mark (14:54, 66–72) and Matthew (26:58, 69–75; Luke on the other hand, puts the material in one continuous narrative, 22:54–62). As in Mark, the vivid picture of Peter warming himself by the enemy’s fire is the point at which the narrative breaks off (v. 18) and later resumes. But unlike Mark and Matthew, which use the first scene only to set the stage for the three denials, John’s Gospel assigns the first denial to his first scene (vv. 16–18) and the other two to the second (vv. 25–27).

The high priest’s house, and its courtyard, is the setting for all that happens in this s…