John 18:17-18

‘The maid therefore who guarded the door says to Peter, “Are you also one of this man's disciples?” He says, “I am not”. Now the servants and the officers were standing there having made a fire of charcoal, because it was cold. And they were warming themselves. And Peter was with them as well standing and warming himself. '

Mark 14:66 confirms that she spoke to him once he had settled himself at the fire (John 18:18). She suggested that he had been with ‘the Nazarene Jesus' and then asked him if he was a disciple. Servant's gossip would have quickly spread something about the events taking place and her words may well not have been accusatory. One can possibly imagine the girl's excitement at being so close to someone who may be an insurrectionist. And indeed the question expects a negative reply. She fears she will be disappointed. But Peter's nerves have been stretched to breaking point and he panics. In Mark his denial is even more fervent. But Mark had the story directly from Peter who did not try to hide anything.

‘I am not.' This is in direct contrast to Jesus' twice repeated ‘I am' (John 18:5).