The girl at the gate renders the same Greek word that was translated in this way in verse 16. However, in verse 17 this person is further described as “a servant girl” (paidiskē). Revised Standard Version has “the maid who kept the door” in both verses. Some translations give the impression that two different persons were involved. New English Bible has “the woman at the door … the maid on duty at the door,” and New American Bible translates “the woman at the gate…. This servant girl kept the gate.” The translator should either use the same phrase in verses 16 and 17 or introduce in verse 16 the information that the girl was a servant and then render “the girl” in verse 17: “(16) … spoke to the servant girl at the gate and led Peter inside. (17) The girl said to Peter…”
In Greek the question Aren’t you also one of the disciples of that man is introduced by a particle (mē) which normally expects the answer “no.” The same particle is used in the second question that Peter is asked (verse 25). However, since the third question (verse 26) definitely expects a positive answer, it may be best to translate the first two questions as expecting positive answers also, especially since the particle mē may have lost its original force in John.
Also probably does not mean, “in addition to the other disciple,” since if the other disciple had been known to be Jesus’ disciple, he would not have been admitted (verse 15). More likely it means “like the others who were with Jesus when he was arrested.” Almost all translations (Revised Standard Version, New English Bible, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, Jerusalem Bible, Goodspeed, Phillips, Barclay, La Sainte Bible: Nouvelle version Segond révisée, Zürcher Bibel, Luther) have “also” or an equivalent. New English Bible translates “Are you another of this man’s disciples?”
In Greek that man is literally “this man” (so most translations), but Good News Translation‘s rendering is more natural for English readers, since Jesus is not present. In some languages it may be necessary to translate one of the disciples of that man as “one of the disciples of that man Jesus.” Otherwise, the reader might misunderstand the phrase to mean “a disciple of ‘the other disciple.’ ”
‘No, I am not,’ answered Peter is literally “That man says, ‘I am not.’ ” I am not may be rendered in some languages “I am not one of his disciples” or “No, indeed!”
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 .