A Fire Kindled and Peter Sat Down - Luke 22:55

Luke the beloved physician wrote how the religious leaders took Jesus, “and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off”, and in chapter twenty-two and verse fifty-five of his book Luke shared how the religious leaders, “had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them” where we read:

And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together,

Peter sat down among them.

The verse reads, “And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, ...” Luke began with the words, “and when” or “and at the time and moment” “they had kindled a fire” which means “the crowd who followed the religious leaders and Jesus set and lit a fire” “in the midst of the hall” or “in the middle of the uncovered space around the house which was enclosed by a wall”, “and were set down together” which means “and were seated with one another”. Luke shared how the “crowd” following the “religious leaders” and Jesus to the “high priest's home” made a “fire” and began to be “seated” around it.

The verse continues, “Peter sat down among them.” Luke added the words, “Peter” whose name means “a little rock or stone and was one of Jesus' disciples” “sat down among them” which means “was seated and fixed alongside the crowd of people”. Luke shared how Jesus' disciple “Peter” also joined himself to those who were “seated” around the “fire”.

When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn what the people in the multitude did when they arrived at the “high priest's” home. Rather than enter his home, the crowd “lit a fire” and were seated around it. We can imagine the temperature must have been conducive to having a “fire”, so those who followed the “religious leaders” and Jesus made themselves as comfortable as possible while they awaited the outcome of this meeting. Though it was against Jewish law to have a “trial” at night, the “religious leaders” tried Jesus anyway. Because “Peter” was not invited into the home and he desired to be obscure, he simply joined himself to the people seated around the “fire” and acted as though he was one of them. We shall see how “Peter's” attempt to be hidden failed, but for now let it be known that God knows where everyone is in relationship to Him, and His desire is to have them close to Him through “belief and trust” in His sacrifice for them. Those who are wise will “yield” to Jesus.

Next time Luke shares concerning Peter how, “a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".