outside, and, as it was midnight and
the weather was cold, they lighted a fire there under the open sky and,
gathering round it, began to warm themselves.

As has been said, John went in through the gate with the crowd, but
Peter was somehow shut out. John, who seems to have occupied a higher
social position than the rest of the Twelve, was known to the high
priest, and, therefore, probably was acquainted with the palace and
knew the servants; and, when he noticed that Peter had been left out,
he went to the portress and got her to let him in by the wicket-gate.

It was a friendly act; and yet, as the event proved, it was
unintentionally an ill turn: John led Peter into temptation. The best
of friends may do this sometimes to one another; for the situation into
which one man may enter without peril may be dangerous to another. One
man may mingle freely in company which another cannot enter without
terrible risks. There are amusements in which one Christian can take
part, though they would ruin another if he touched them. A mind
matured and disciplined may read books which would kindle the fire of
hell in a mind less experienced. There are always two things that go
to the making of a temptation: there is the particular set of
circumstances to be encountered on the one hand, and there is the
peculiar character or history of the person entering into the situation
on the other. We need to remember this if we are to defend either
ourselves or others against temptation.

II.

John no doubt, as soon as he got Peter inside the door, hurried away
across the court into the hall where Jesus was, to witness the
proceedings.

Not so Peter. He was not familiar with the place as John was; and he
had the shyness of a plain man at the sight of the inside of a great
house. Besides, he was under fear of being recognized as a follower of
Christ and apprehended. Now also the unlucky blow he had made at
Malchus at the gate of Gethsemane had to be paid for, because it
greatly increased his chance of detection.

He remained, therefore, just inside the great door, watching from the
shadows of the archway what was going on inside, and, without knowing
it, himself being watched by the portress from her coigne of vantage.
He was ill at ease; for he did not know what to do. He did not dare to
go, like John, into the judgment-hall. Perhaps he half wished he could
get out into the street again. He was in a trap.

At last he st