Matthew 26:69-75

69 Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.”

70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.”

71 And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

72 But again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!”

73 And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.”

74 Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!” Immediately a rooster crowed.

75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So he went out and wept bitterly.

This account also appears in Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:54-62; John 18:15-18, 25-27.

courtyard (v.69) — in the palace courtyard. The trials before Annas and Caiaphas were in the buildings that surrounded it.

gateway (v.71) — the passageway from the courtyard into the street

The palace or court of the high priest no doubt was constructed in the usual way. A gated porch admitted to a central courtyard on one side of which was the palace of Annas, and on the other side the palace of Caiaphas. Opposite the porch a raised columned pavement formed an audience chamber. Here Christ would stand as a prisoner before the high priest, and thus Peter was enabled to see Him and He to see Peter (Luke 22:1). — Williams, page 727.

your speech betrays you (v.73) — his Galilean accent

curse and swear (v.74) — perhaps profanity, or maybe calling down death upon himself if he were lying

Peter remembered (v.75) — The Lord turned (from where He was on the balcony) and looked at Peter (Luke 22:61).

The Lord’s look was probably not one of judgment but of sadness and love. When He warned Peter of his denials, He told him:

“Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren” (Luke 22:31-32).

Peter failed, but his faith did not. He sinned, but his salvation was never in question.

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