João 18:15-16

Evidently Peter and another disciple had followed the arresting party from Gethsemane back into Jerusalem to the high priests’ palace (Gr. aule, "court" or "courtyard," cf. 10:16).

Traditionally commentators have understood the "other disciple" to have been John, the "beloved disciple" (cf. 13:23; 19:26-27; 20:2-9; 21:1, 20-23, 24-25). However because John described this "other disciple" as someone who had a close relationship with the high priest (Gr. gnostos, cf. 2 Kings 10:11; Psalms 55:13; Luke 2:44) many modern interpreters question the traditional view. It has seemed incredible to some of them that a fisherman from Galilee would have had the close relationship with the high priest (i.e., Caiaphas, John 18:13) that this passage presents. Nevertheless it is entirely possible that John as the son of a supposedly prosperous fisherman (cf. Mark 1:19-20) did indeed have such a relationship.

"Salome, the mother of John, was a sister of Mary, Jesus’ mother (cf. John 19:25 with Mark 15:40), and would have been equally related to Elizabeth, whose husband, Zechariah, was a priest (Luke 1:36)" [Note: Tenney, "John," p. 172.]

Moreover the New Testament presents Peter and John as having the close relationship that this passage describes (e.g., 13:23-24; 20:2-10; 21:20-24; Acts 3:1; Acts 3:11; Acts 4:13; et al.). Therefore the traditional view may be correct. [Note: Cf. Frans Neirynck, Evangelica: Gospel Studies-Etudes d’Evangile. Collected Essays, pp. 335-64.] The correct identification of the "other disciple" is not essential to a correct interpretation of the events, however.