Luke 22:51-55

Luke 22:51 (KJB)
And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.

Jesus knew that He had to go to the cross so he could not allow a confrontation between His disciples and the crowd. So he told Peter “suffer ye thus far,” in other words, Peter that is as far as you go in opposing these people. There will be no more physical opposition. Then Jesus touched the ear of Malchus and restored it. Luke being a physician is the only one who records the healing of the ear of Malchus. Jesus showed His good intentions here but He also showed that He was in charge of this entire event.

Luke 22:52 (KJB)
Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?

Jesus then expresses His surprise at the way the crowd had approached Him to arrest Him. They came out with enough weapons to subdue a riot and then Jesus poses a question to them that are you coming to get me as you would a thief? Did they expect that there would be much opposition in His arrest. They were probably in fear to take Jesus just as in the time of Elijah when he called down fire from Heaven, they probably feared that Jesus would do the same thing.

Luke 22:53 (KJB)
When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.

Jesus then tells them that every single day I was with you teaching in the temple and no one had laid hands on me. (Mat 26:55 KJV) In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me. Why would they come in this fashion now? It was because the Scripture had to be fulfilled

Luke 22:54 (KJB)
Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off.

Peter had followed at a far distance but he had tried to get as close as he could to see what was happening to Jesus. He would have sat in the inner court which would have had access by an archway. Peter had entered in and sat with the servants to see what the end would be. So Peter was interested in the proceedings. He probably thought he could blend in with the others who were present and go unnoticed.

Luke 22:55 (KJB)
And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.

It must have been pretty cold that morning because Peter had warmed himself by the fire. Peter took a chance sitting by the fire because even if it was dark, the fire would have lit up his face and he could then be identified. Remember Jesus told the disciples to go to Galilee and here Peter will run into problems because he disobeyed Jesus. (Mark 14:28 KJV) But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee. Mark 16:7 KJV) But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.

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