As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, “You are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it, saying, “I am not.”
Peter’s fall to the first temptation to deny Christ has led to another, but this time he is confronted by several servants instead of just one little maid. One of the tactics Satan uses is to increase the pressure to sin once we have already fallen. Falling to one temptation invites another and often it is much stronger than the first. There was a group of servants around the fire and if one had asked Peter if he were one of Jesus’ disciples, it is certain that the others would also take up the question, especially if Peter was not quick with his denial. One of the servant girls first asked him the question and the others took it up. The form of the question again expects a negative answer, for this would be the last place anyone would look for a disciple of Jesus, which is probably why no attempt was made to hold Peter for questioning, even though he was suspicious looking (and sounding). The questioners were not treating the possibility seriously.
Being afraid of what men can do to us may cause us to sin (Prov 29:25). The solution is trusting in God and His protection.
Proverbs 29:25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.