The εἰστήκεισαν δὲ implies the conditions under which the first fearful fall of Peter was accomplished. Now the servants and the officers were standing£ (imperfect tense), having made ( πεποιηκότες, perfect participle) a fire of coals ( ἀνθρακιάν), congeries prunarum ardentium (cf.
John 21:9; Ecclesiastes 11:1-10:32, "a glowing fire;" Aquila, Psalms 120:4), because it was cold: and Peter £ was standing with them, standing and warming himself. The whole construction of the sentence implies that this was how matters stood while the examination was going on to which John then reverts.
The synoptists know or say nothing of this first examination, which bears upon it strong marks of authenticity.