One of his supporters used his sword in an attempt to prevent Jesus' arrest. Jesus told him to put his sword away. Thomas Long, in his commentary on Matthew, outlines the three reasons Jesus gives: 1) Violence is stupid because it just escalates into greater destruction; 2) God has other ways of getting the work done; and 3) what is going to happen must happen so that the scriptures be fulfilled.
Jesus then chastises the crowds, "Why do you think you need weapons to arrest me?"
All the disciples deserted him and fled. Long reminds us that Jesus had forecast this: See 19:27; 26:31.
Under arrest, he is taken to the Jewish high priest. Peter follows at a distance. The council tries to find proof that Jesus is deserving of the death penalty. They are even willing to accept false testimony, but weren't able to. They need to protect themselves, their status, and his words and acts have disrupted their security.
The high priest demands that Jesus testifies under oath that he claims to be the Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus responds, "You say so. And you are going to see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven."
That is enough admission for the high priest. He doesn't need any more witnesses. The council agrees that Jesus' words are blasphemy and deserving of the death penalty.
Their security has been threatened, and they react by trying to reestablish it. Peter's security is also threatened. When one of the servant-girls recognizes him as a companion to Jesus, Peter denies it--three times, just as Jesus' had foretold.
Peter was not the last follower of Jesus to deny any knowledge of him when circumstances became uncomfortable.
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