And as Peter was beneath in the palace ,.... Not at the lower and further end of the room, but in the lower part of it; that part in which Jesus and the sanhedrim were, being upon an advanced ground, with steps ascending to it: there cometh one of the maids of the high priest ; the same that kept the door, and let him in. The Ethiopic version renders it, "a daughter of the high priest". read more
And when she saw Peter warming himself ,.... At the life which was in the midst of the hall: she looked upon him ; very earnestly, knowing him to be the same, she had let in at the motion of one, that was known in the high priest's family; and suspecting him, by being a stranger, and by his looks: and said, and thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth ; that is, one of his disciples; See Gill on Matthew 26:69 . read more
But he denied ,.... That he was with Jesus, or a disciple of his: saying, I know not; Jesus of Nazareth: neither understand I what thou sayest ; about him, and of being with him: the last phrase, "neither understand I", is omitted in the Syriac and Persic versions: and he went out into the porch ; adjoining to the palace, to consider what to do, being surprised and confounded at such a challenge: and the cock crew ; the first time, being about midnight; and yet he took no notice... read more
And a maid saw him again ,.... Either the same maid, so the Syriac and Persic versions read, "that maid": that selfsame maid, as before, or another, as in Matthew 26:71 , and so the Arabic version reads it here; but the Ethiopic as before "a daughter"; that is, of the high priest: and began to say to them that stood by ; the fire, along with Peter, warming themselves: this is one of them ; this man is one of the disciples and followers of Jesus of Nazareth; he is of that sect, he... read more
And he denied it again ,.... That he was one of the disciples of Jesus: and a little after ; about an hour after, Luke 22:59 ; they that stood by, said again to Peter, surely thou art one of them ; one confidently affirmed that he was with Jesus, and another challenged him with seeing him in the garden with him, Luke 22:59 , and in general they were of opinion, that he must be one of that sect, giving this as a reason, for thou art a Galilean : as they supposed Jesus to be;... read more
But he began to curse and to swear ,.... To wish the most dreadful things upon himself, and to swear by the living God; saying , I know not this man of whom ye speak : See Gill on Matthew 26:74 . read more
And the second time the cock crew ,.... Immediately, as soon as he had so said and swore, as the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions read, and as it is read in one of Beza's copies; which was about three of the clock in the morning, and is what is properly called the cock crowing: and Peter called to mind ; upon hearing the cock crow a second time, the word that Jesus said unto him, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice : as he now had done twice, to the maid... read more
And when he thought thereon, he wept - Or, he fell a weeping. This Mr. Wakefield thinks comes nearest to the original, επιβαλων εκλαιε . Others think it means the wrapping of his head in the skirts of his garment, through shame and anguish. Others think that επιβαλων rather refers to the violence, or hurry, with which he left the place, being impelled thereto by the terrors and remorse of his guilty conscience. Our own translation is as good as any. read more
Peter's fall. The painful declaration that the words of the prophet, "I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered abroad," would find their fulfillment in them, and in "All ye shall be offended," roused Peter's spirit, and with a bold but mistaken estimate of his own courage and devotion, he fearlessly, even presumptuously, affirmed, "Although all shall be offended, yet will not I." St. Luke has preserved for us words which throw much light upon the incident of Peter's... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Mark 14:66-72
We have here the story of Peter's denying Christ. 1. It began in keeping at a distance from him. Peter had followed afar off (Mark 14:54), and now was beneath in the palace, at the lower end of the hall. Those that are shy of Christ, are in a fair way to deny him, that are shy of attending on holy ordinances, shy of the communion of the faithful, and loth to be seen on the side of despised godliness. 2. It was occasioned by his associating with the high priest's servants, and sitting among... read more