19 The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. 20 Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. 21 Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard me what I said to them; they know what I said.” 22 When he had said these things, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” 24 Annas then sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” 26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” 27 Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.
Comment: A bit of history – Annas had been High Priest. Caiaphas, his son-in-law was the High Priest at the time of Jesus trial. Apparently Annas’ family members filled the High Priest position for the first century after Jesus was born. Annas questioned Jesus about His teaching. Jesus answered that all His teaching had been done in the open and that Annas could ask around if he really wanted to know what Jesus had been teaching. An Officer apparently thought that He was being rude to the ‘High Priest’, who had been but wasn’t in that Office now! The officer slapped Jesus’ face, and Jesus replied strongly but not rudely ‘but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?‘ Annas then sent Jesus to Caiaphas who was the High Priest at that time. Meanwhile Peter wanting to be near Jesus, but hiding in the crowd, denies the One whom he had sworn to follow faithfully.
Prayer: Help me to stand true for You, even when people belittle my relationship with You.
As I read it! 