It is common for cowardly bullies (and some of them appear as corporate managers in business) to distance themselves from shady circumstances so that they can appear to be reasonable people who are 'only doing their duty' – even though they have manipulated the circumstances to effect the downfall of somebody they do not like or who threatens them. Caiaphas, the High Priest was one of those.
 
Caiaphas had not personally arrested Jesus or been with the armed mob in Gethsemane’s Garden. But he had authorised the action (Luke 22:4-6), spurred on by the betrayal of Judas, although he did not want to be known as the 'archbishop' who ambushed a righteous man. All the dirty work was done by others so that he could appear wise and just as he presided over the religious court.
 
Peter also kept his distance. Having run away in great fear from the Garden, in the darkness, he still thought there might be something he could do to rescue Jesus. His pride was bigger than the Lord's warning prediction of Peter's triple denial that night (Matthew 26:34). He also pretended not to have anything to do with Jesus, the covert arrest and the undignified scuffle of Peter's futile attempt to kill Caiaphas' servant. Wisdom would have placed him anywhere else: but pride and arrogance are not wise at all, and lead to even more dangerous situations - as Peter would discover.
 
Covert (that is: hidden) activity often appears to be the best route to achieving an objective which would be impossible with honest integrity. It may well achieve the immediate objective but it is wrong, deceitful, ungodly, unrighteous, wicked and evil. Not only does it reveal the wickedness in the person's heart, it also exposes them and others to a vortex of danger which is opened when lies replace truth. Jesus' command to 'watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation' (Matthew 26:41) is as relevant now as 2000 years ago. If you have any responsibility of any kind or if pride gets the better of you, pray before you start each day. Prayer matters as much in the office, school, hospital, factory, construction site or transport system as in the home and church. Let God teach you a new way to be honest with people; and keep walking in the Light (1 John 1:9-10) away from the shadows.