Peter Says He Doesn’t Know Jesus^(A)

⁶⁹ At that time, as Peter was sitting [^Loutside] in the courtyard, a servant girl came to him and said, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.”

⁷⁰ But Peter denied it in front of everyone. He said, “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

⁷¹ When he left the courtyard and was at the gate, another girl saw him. She said to the people there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

⁷² Again, ·Peter said he was never with him, saying, “I swear [^Lhe denied it with an oath, saying,] I don’t know this man Jesus!”

⁷³ A short time later, some people standing there went to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of those who followed Jesus. The way you talk shows it [^CPeter’s Galilean accent gave him away].”

⁷⁴ Then Peter began to place a curse on himself and swear, “I don’t know the man.” At once, a rooster crowed. ⁷⁵ And Peter remembered what Jesus had told him: “Before the rooster crows, you will ·say three times that you don’t know me [deny/disown me three times].” Then Peter went outside and ·cried painfully [^Twept bitterly].

Peter Denies Jesus^(A)

⁶⁶ While Peter was in the courtyard, a servant girl of the high priest came there. ⁶⁷ She saw Peter warming himself at the fire and looked closely at him.

Then she said, “You also were with Jesus, that man from Nazareth.”

⁶⁸ But Peter denied it. He said, “I don’t know or understand what you are talking about.” Then Peter left and went toward the entrance of the courtyard. And the rooster crowed.^[a]

⁶⁹ The servant girl saw Peter there, and again she said to the people who were standing nearby, “This man is one of those who followed Jesus.” ⁷⁰ Again Peter ·said that it was not true [denied it].

A short time later, some people were standing near Peter saying, “Surely you are one of those who followed Jesus, because you are from Galilee, too [^CPeter’s Galilean accent gave him away; Matt. 26:73].”

⁷¹ Then Peter began to place a curse on himself and swear, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about!”

⁷² At once, the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had told him: “Before the rooster crows twice, you will ·say three times that you don’t know me [deny/disown me three times].” Then Peter broke down and began to cry.

⁵⁶ A servant girl saw Peter sitting there in the firelight, and looking closely at him, she said, “This man was also with him.”

⁵⁷ But Peter ·said this was not true [denied it]; he said, “Woman, I don’t know him.”

⁵⁸ A short time later, another person saw Peter and said, “You are also one of them.”

But Peter said, “Man, I am not!”

⁵⁹ About an hour later, another man insisted, “Certainly this man was with him, because he is ·from Galilee [a Galilean], too.”

⁶⁰ But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about!”

At once, while Peter was still speaking, a rooster crowed. ⁶¹ Then the Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. And Peter remembered what the Lord had said: “Before the rooster crows this day, you will ·say three times that you don’t know me [deny me three times].” ⁶² Then Peter went outside and ·cried painfully [wept bitterly].

Peter Says Again He Doesn’t Know Jesus^(A)

²⁵ As Simon Peter was standing and warming himself, they said to him, “Aren’t you one of that man’s ·followers [disciples]?”

Peter ·said it was not true [denied it]; he said, “No, I am not.”

²⁶ One of the ·servants [slaves; bond-servants] of the high priest was there. This servant was a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off [see 18:10]. The servant said, “Didn’t I see you with him in the ·garden [grove]?”

²⁷ Again Peter ·said it wasn’t true [denied it]. At once ·a rooster [^Tthe cock] crowed.