Peter Denies Jesus

After Jesus was taken to the high priest’s house, Peter followed at a distance. Another disciple went into the court, and Peter was brought in. In the courtyard, servants and officers had made a coal fire because it was cold, and Peter stayed there, warming himself among them.

Then a servant girl looked closely at Peter and said that he had been with Jesus. John says the girl at the door asked if he was one of Jesus’ disciples. Peter denied it. He said he did not know Jesus and did not understand what they meant. He went out towards the porch.

Later, Peter was challenged again. Someone said he was one of Jesus’ followers, and others kept speaking about it. Peter denied it again. Matthew says he even added an oath as he said he did not know the man.

About an hour later, the questions came a third time. People were convinced Peter had been with Jesus because he was a Galilean, and his way of speaking gave him away. John adds that one of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked if he had seen Peter in the garden. Peter denied Jesus again, strongly insisting that he did not know him.

Immediately a rooster crowed. Peter remembered Jesus’ words that he would deny him three times before the rooster crowed. Luke says the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter went outside and wept bitterly.