The identity of another disciple is disputed. Some have identified him with the other disciple (20.3), whom others further identify with the disciple whom Jesus loved (13.23). However, there is no firm basis for this identification, and it should not be used in translation. Some languages have two distinct terms for disciple, one of which is used in speaking of the twelve and another which designates a larger group of followers. Because another disciple is not identified as a member of the twelve, some translators prefer to use the second of these terms. However, only someone who had been present with Jesus in the garden would be likely to have followed him to the High Priest’s house after his arrest.

The Greek word gnōstos, rendered well known (Phillips “known personally to”; Moffatt, Goodspeed “an acquaintance of”; New English Bible “who was acquainted with”; Jerusalem Bible, New American Bible “who was known to”), is used in the Septuagint (note Psa 55.13, for example) to mean a “close friend.” If this disciple was a “close friend” of the High Priest, it is hard to identify him with the disciple whom Jesus loved (13.23; see the comment in the previous paragraph).

The Greek word aulē, rendered courtyard of the … house, also appears in the Synoptic accounts of Peter’s denial. There the word is used of the place where Peter was warming himself by the fire (Mark 14.54; Luke 22.55), which suggests a large enclosed space open to the sky. In John’s account, however, aulē occurs only in verse 15. The fact that the other disciple was admitted to aulē because he was well known to the High Priest and that Peter was admitted only after the other disciple … spoke to the girl at the gate (verse 16) suggests that John may understand aulē to mean a building rather than an open courtyard, which would not normally be so restricted. This explains the translation “palace” in Jerusalem Bible, Luther, and the note of New American Bible. However, most translations agree with the rendering of Good News Translation.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .