Did the cock crow once or twice before Peter's third denial? | CARM Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry Did the cock crow once or twice before Peter's third denial? Matthew 26:34-35, 74-75; Luke 22:34,60-62; John 13:38 and Mark 14:30 Denies before cock crows (Mathew 26:34,74-75) - "Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you that this very night, before a cock crows, you shall deny Me three times . . . 74Then he began to curse and swear, "I do not know the man!" And immediately a cock crowed. 75And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, "Before a cock crows, you will deny Me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly." (Luke 22:34,60-62) - "And He said, "I say to you, Peter, the cock will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me . . .

.60But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are talking about." And immediately, while he was still speaking, a cock crowed. 61And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, "Before a cock crows today, you will deny Me three times." 62And he went out and wept bitterly." (John 13:38) - "Jesus *answered, "Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a cock shall not crow, until you deny Me three times." Denies before cock crows twice (Mark 14:30) - "And Jesus *said to him, "Truly I say to you, that you yourself this very night, before a cock crows twice, shall three times deny Me..." If a cock crows a second time, then it has crowed once before. The problem is that in Mark, after Peter denies the Lord for the third time (Mark 14:71), immediately a cock crows a second time (v. 72).

The other gospels tell us that after Peter's third denial a cock then crows. How do we reconcile this difficulty? Mark does not mention when the cock crowed the first time. Therefore, it is possible that after Peter's third denial, the cock then crowed twice; that is, two times in a row. This is logically possible. Peter's Denial of Christ John 13:38 & 18:25-27 Jesus predicts Peter's denial 34 Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you that this very night, before a cock crows, you shall deny Me three times." 35 Peter *said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You." All the disciples said the same thing too. 30 And Jesus *said to him, "Truly I say to you, that you yourself this very night, before a cock crows twice, shall three times deny Me." 34 And He said, "I say to you, Peter, the cock will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me." 38 Jesus *answered, "Will you lay down your life for Me?

Truly, truly, I say to you, a cock shall not crow, until you deny Me three times. first inquiry 69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a certain servant-girl came to him and said, "You too were with Jesus the Galilean." 66 And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest *came, 67 and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him, and *said, "You, too, were with Jesus the Nazarene." 55 And after they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter was sitting among them. 56 And a certain servant-girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight, and looking intently at him, said, "This man was with Him too." 18:25a Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself.

They said therefore to him, "You are not also one of His disciples, are you?" 1st denial 70 But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you are talking about." 68 But he denied it, saying, "I neither know nor understand what you are talking about." And he went out onto the porch.

57 But he denied it, saying, "Woman, I do not know Him." 25b He denied it, and said, "I am not." second inquiry 71 And when he had gone out to the gateway, another servant-girl saw him and *said to those who were there, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth." 69 And the maid saw him, and began once more to say to the bystanders, "This is one of them!" 58a And a little later, another saw him and said, "You are one of them too!" But Peter said, "Man, I am not!" 26 One of the slaves of the high priest, being a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut off, *said, "Did I not see you in the garden with Him?" 2nd denial 72 And again he denied it with an oath, "I do not know the man." 70a But again he was denying it.

58b But Peter said, "Man, I am not!" third inquiry 73 And a little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "Surely you too are one of them; for the way you talk gives you away." 70b And after a little while the bystanders were again saying to Peter, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean too." 59 And after about an hour had passed, another man began to insist, saying, "Certainly this man also was with Him, for he is a Galilean too." 3rd denial 74 Then he began to curse and swear, "I do not know the man!" 71 But he began to curse and swear, "I do not know this man you are talking about!" 60a But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are talking about." 74 And immediately a cock crowed. 72a And immediately a cock crowed a second time. 60b And immediately, while he was still speaking, a cock crowed. 27 Peter therefore denied it again; and immediately a cock crowed.

Peter weeps 75 And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, "Before a cock crows, you will deny Me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly. 72b And Peter remembered how Jesus had made the remark to him, "Before a cock crows twice, you will deny Me three times." And he began to weep. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, "Before a cock crows today, you will deny Me three times." 62 And he went out and wept bitterly. Mark 14:72 Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times." And he broke down and wept. Matthew Henry Commentary 14:66-72 Peter's denying Christ began by keeping at a distance from him. Those that are shy of godliness, are far in the way to deny Christ.

Those who think it dangerous to be in company with Christ's disciples, because thence they may be drawn in to suffer for him, will find it much more dangerous to be in company with his enemies, because there they may be drawn in to sin against him. When Christ was admired and flocked after, Peter readily owned him; but will own no relation to him now he is deserted and despised. Yet observe, Peter's repentance was very speedy. Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall; and let him that has fallen think of these things, and of his own offences, and return to the Lord with weeping and supplication, seeking forgiveness, and to be raised up by the Holy Spirit. John 13:38 Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times! Matthew Henry Commentary 13:36-38 What Christ had said concerning brotherly love, Peter overlooked, but spoke of that about which Christ kept them ignorant.

It is common to be more eager to know about secret things, which belong to God only, than about things revealed, which belong to us and our children; to be more desirous to have our curiosity gratified, than our consciences directed; to know what is done in heaven, than what we may do to get thither. How soon discourse as to what is plain and edifying is dropped, while a doubtful dispute runs on into endless strife of words! We are apt to take it amiss to be told we cannot do this and the other, whereas, without Christ we can do nothing. Christ knows us better than we know ourselves, and has many ways of discovering those to themselves, whom he loves, and he will hide pride from them. May we endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, to love one another with a pure heart fervently, and to walk humbly with our God.

Peter Denies Jesus (Mark 14:66-72) - Analysis Peter Denies Jesus (Mark 14:66-72) Peter Denies Jesus (Mark 14:66-72) Analysis and Commentary Share By Austin Cline 66 And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest: 67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth . 68 But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew. 69 And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them. 70 And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto. 71 But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak. 72 And the second time the cock crew.

And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept. Compare: Matthew 26:69-75; Luke 22:55-62; John 18:15-18, 25-27 Peters Denials As Jesus predicted, Peter denies his association with him. Jesus also predicted the same for all his other disciples, but Mark doesnt narrate their betrayals. Peters is interwoven with Jesus trial, thus contrasting true confessions with false ones. Peters actions are first described at the beginning of the trial, making this a sandwich narrative technique employed so often by Mark. In order to emphasize the faithlessness of Peter, the nature of his three denials increases in intensity each time. First he gives a simple denial to a single maid who claims that he was with Jesus.

Second he denies to the maid and a group of bystanders that he was one of them. Finally, he denies with a vehement oath to a group of bystanders that he was one of them. It is worth remembering that according to Mark, Peter was the first disciple called to Jesus side (1:16-20) and the first who confessed that Jesus was the Messiah (8:29). Nevertheless, his denials of Jesus may be the most vehement of all. This is the last we see of Peter in Marks gospel and its unclear whether Peters weeping is a sign of repentance, contrition, or prayer. How many times did Peter deny Jesus before the cock crowed for the first time? - Errancy.com Errancy.com Posted on Mar.19, 2009. Filed in John , Luke , Mark , Matthew . Average rating: 4.5 / 10 ( Rate It ). In all four gospels Jesus predicts that Peter will deny three times that he knows him, and in all four gospels Peter does indeed deny Jesus three times.

They disagree, however, as to whether the second and third denials take place before or after the cock crows. In Matthew, Peter denies Jesus three times before the cock crows: Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant-girl came to him and said, ‘You also were with Jesus the Galilean.’ But he denied it before all of them, saying, ‘I do not know what you are talking about.’ When he went out to the porch, another servant-girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, ‘This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.’ Again he denied it with an oath, ‘I do not know the man.’ After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, ‘Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you.’ Then he began to curse, and he swore an oath, ‘I do not know the man!’ At that moment the cock crowed.

[Matthew 26:69-74 (NRSV)] Luke’s account agrees with Matthew, also having three denials before the cock crows: Then a servant-girl, seeing him in the firelight, stared at him and said, ‘This man also was with him.’ But he denied it, saying, ‘Woman, I do not know him.’ A little later someone else, on seeing him, said, ‘You also are one of them.’ But Peter said, ‘Man, I am not!’ Then about an hour later still another kept insisting, ‘Surely this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean.’ But Peter said, ‘Man, I do not know what you are talking about!’ At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. [Luke 22:56-60 (NRSV)] John too has three denials before the cock crows: … the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the woman who guarded the gate, and brought Peter in.

The woman said to Peter, ‘You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?’ He said, ‘I am not.’ … Now Simon Peter was standing by and warming himself. They asked him, ‘You are not also one of his disciples are you?’ He denied it and said, ‘I am not.’ One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, ‘Did I not see you in the garden with him?’ Again Peter denied it, and at that moment the cock crowed. [John 18:16b-17, 25-27 (NRSV)] These accounts all fit the predictions in Matthew 26:34, Luke 22:34, and John 13:38 that Peter would deny Jesus three times before the cock crowed. In Mark, though, Peter denies Jesus just once before the cock crows: While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest came by.

When she saw Peter warming himself, she stared at him and said, ‘You also were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.’ But he denied it, saying, ‘I do not know or understand what you are talking about.’ And he went out into the forecourt. Then the cock crowed. [Mark 14:66-68 (NRSV)] Mark has Peter deny Jesus twice more before the cock crows again, fulfilling Jesus’ prediction in Mark 14:30 that Peter would deny him three times before the cock crowed twice. In Mark, though, Peter’s second and third denials happen after the cock crows once, which would mean that Jesus’ prediction as it is recorded in the other gospels was incorrect. So how many times did Peter deny Jesus before the cock crowed for the first time? Did he deny him three times before the cock crowed, as Matthew, Luke, and John record, or just once, as Mark has it? N.B. All posts are written in a style sympathetic to the claim of Biblical error, even in cases where the author ("Errancy") disagrees with the claim. See the About page for the site's philosophy.

Biblical Errancy: Peter's Denial of Jesus: How Many Times did the Cock Crow? On Wednesday, June 18, 2003 Sharon wrote: Subject: Re: Crewing… BTW, I finally got around to looking into the number of times the cock crows in the other 3 gospels. Nowhere does it state, in the other three gospels, that the cock only crowed once. Instead, in two of them, it merely states that the cock does crow, without stating whether it be twelve times or only once. So how did you derive that it was only once in the other gospels? Also, it isnʼt mentioned in John at all, which makes me wonder (yet again) where you are getting your information. To save time, here are the relevant versus from the two non-Mark gospels where the story of Peter and the cock crowing is mentioned: Matthew 26:34 - Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. —that rooster would not crow at all, until Peter had denied him three times. No crow.

It doesnʼt matter how many times it crowed after Peter denied him 3 times. Why? Because Mark contradicts, saying that Peter denied and the cock crew. Peter denied again, and the cock crew. In Mark, Peter had not denied Jesus 3 times, but the rooster was already crowing on the second denial. It contradicts the other 3 gospels. “before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice”. If that rooster crowed, even so much as one time, before Jesus was denied thrice… it was and is still, a contradiction. Matthew 26:75 - And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly. That rooster was NOT suppose to crow at all until Peter denies him THREE times. Mark 14:68 - But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch and the COCK CREW. (Peter had not yet denied Jesus 3 times… but only once.) Verse 69: - a maid accuses Peter.

Peter denies Jesus a second time (but the cock has already crowed.) Verse 70: - the people nearby Peter accuse him of Jesus, and a third time he denies, and the cock crows a second time. It is then Peter (only in the book of Mark) calls to mind, the saying “Before the cock crows twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.” That is in complete contradiction with the other 3 Gospels. On Wednesday, June 18, 2003 Bo Zimmerman wrote: Subject: RE: Crewing… Hmm… Well, I guess we have to disagree on this one. In Mark, each crowing is delineated, so that we see that the crow had only done so once after the first denial, but as Jesus predicted, did not do so twice until after the third denial. In the other ****TWO**** gospels (not 3— no mention in John, despite the fact that you keep repeating “other 3”), each crowing (first or the second, itʼs not clear) is not delineated, but that doesnʼt mean it didnʼt happen. - Bo Textual variants in different New Testament manuscripts.

On June 19, 2003 Sharon wrote: Subject: Re: Fw: Crewing… In my understanding the older the manuscript is… the more accurate it is. And if the scriptures were not originally there, to imply two crows—then, my question is, did the original manuscripts for Mark tend to lean toward the accounts found in the other 3 Gospels, with only one crow. In my reasoning, it could create a problem, as for a legitimate contradiction. Maybe I can look that up sometime in that book Iʼve got “The Earliest New Testament Greek Manuscripts”… can you read Greek? On Wednesday, June 18, 2003 “Edward Babinski” wrote: Subject: How many times, and when and to whom did Peter deny Christ? Speaking of cocks crowing, Dave Matson once did a booklet on the question of how many times, when, and to whom Peter denied Christ, i.e., according to all four Gospels. Good booklet. Ask him to email the article to you if he can. Lotʼs of problems for Bible believers there!

Also, Lindell, who wrote Battle For The Bible, once agreed that there were problems with trying to reconcile all four Gospel descriptions of when, and where, and to whom Peter denied Christ. Lindell suggested that if worse came to worse, a Bible believer could always resort to suggesting that Peter denied Christ 12 times! That means that each Gospel described completely separate instances of Peterʼs denials, each Gospel author only writing about there of the different times Peter denied Christ, which would add up to 12 completely different times! Of course thatʼs absurd, but thatʼs how the Bible believerʼs mind will work, any explanation to overcome difficulties. Of course Lindellʼs explanation doesnʼt hold water for the simple fact that there each Gospel also says that Peter only denied Jesus three times, not “12!” Mark 14:66-72, New American Bible, revised edition (NABRE) While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the high priest’s maids came along. Seeing Peter warming himself, she looked intently at... Traditional | Alphabetic 66#q.

[14:66–72] Mt 26:69–75; Lk 22:56–62; Jn 18:16–18, 25–27. While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the high priest’s maids came along. 67Seeing Peter warming himself, she looked intently at him and said, “You too were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” 68#[Then the cock crowed]: found in most manuscripts, perhaps in view of Mk 14:30, 72 but omitted in others. But he denied it saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are talking about.” So he went out into the outer court. [Then the cock crowed.] 69The maid saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” 70Once again he denied it.

A little later the bystanders said to Peter once more, “Surely you are one of them; for you too are a Galilean.” 71He began to curse and to swear, “I do not know this man about whom you are talking.” 72And immediately a cock crowed a second time. Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had said to him, “Before the cock crows twice you will deny me three times.” He broke down and wept.#r. [14:72] Jn 13:38. Peter Denies Christ - Mark 14:66-72: Berean Bible Church Peter Denies Christ Mark 14:66-72 Delivered 10/21/2007 We are studying the last day of Jesus' life. We saw in our study last week that Jesus was arrested by Israel's leaders and taken to trial. Once the arrest had taken place, Peter followed the band of soldiers at a distance to the court of the high priest. What we see in our text this morning is that Peter denies that he even knows Jesus. Peter totally turns his back on his Lord.

Before we look at the text, let's remind ourselves just who Peter was. Peter was an apostle of God: And as He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." (Mark 1:16-17 NASB) Here we see Jesus beginning to call His apostles. What was Peter's response to Jesus' call: And they immediately left the nets and followed Him. (Mark 1:18 NASB) When Peter is called by Jesus, he drops everything to follow Him. Peter considered this call so important that he was willing to leave everything behind to answer it. In leaving his nets, he was leaving the very means of his livelihood. Peter was serious about his commitment to Jesus. Luke tells us that Peter was called to be an apostle: And it was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God.

13 And when day came, He called His disciples to Him; and chose twelve of them, whom He also named as apostles: (Luke 6:12-13 NASB) After His all-night prayer vigil, Jesus called a larger group of "disciples" to Him, from which He chose twelve, designating them as His apostles. These were to be the leaders of the church. They were to be apostles. Apostle is from the Greek word apostolos. Thayer says of apostolos that it is "a delegate, messenger or one sent forth with orders." That Jesus spent all night in prayer before their appointment is an indication that these names were not "pulled out of a hat," but were chosen in consultation with God the Father. There are four lists in the New Testament that give us the names of the twelve apostles chosen by Jesus: Matthew 10:2-4, Mark 3:16-19, Luke 6:14-16, Acts 1:13,26. Let me give you a few facts about these lists of disciples. Peter is always listed first among the disciples.

There is no disciple of Jesus with whom we are more familiar than the person of Peter. Jesus gave Peter a new name; the name given was actually Cephas, which means: "a rock" (John 1:42). Peter was the oldest of the twelve, and he was the leader and spokesperson. Peter had been in the Lord's company from the very beginning of his ministry. He had seen the mightiest and most stupendous of Christ's miracles. He had been in the innermost circle as far as the teaching of Jesus was concerned. He had heard the "Sermon on the Mount" the first time any human ear had heard it. Peter walked on water: And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." 29 And He said, "Come!" And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. (Matthew 14:28-29 NASB) Peter is the only human being, apart from Jesus, to ever walk on water. That's something to brag about.

Peter not only walked on water, he also received divine revelation: Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He began asking His disciples, saying, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" (Matthew 16:13 NASB) Peter answers the Lord: And Simon Peter answered and said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 And Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 16:16-17 NASB) Think for a moment about what Peter confessed. Even though his understanding would certainly increase in the days after the resurrection, Peter had come to terms with the whole of Biblical revelation. Jesus Christ is the Promised One of God. He is the One that God promised Adam and Eve, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the other prophets. All of the Scripture pointed to this one Person that stood before Simon Peter.

All of the sacrificial system, the metaphors found in the holy days, and even the pictures represented by the temple, pointed to Christ. The focal point of human history centers on Him. All of the worship and adoration of God belongs to Him since He is God. Peter was an eye witness of the Transfiguration: And six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and brought them up to a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; 3 and His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them. (Mark 9:2-3 NASB) Peter had later been with them on the Mount of Transfiguration beholding the glory of Christ and Moses and Elijah brought from heaven to talk with him. He had heard the voice of God saying to Jesus, "Thou art my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." What I want you to see here is that Peter was no casual church attender, he is no nominal Christian. He was the Lord's right hand man and the leader of the apostles who had watched the Lord feed the five thousand and then the four thousand with a few fish and a few loaves of bread.

He had seen Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead after four days in the tomb. He had walked on water and spoken under divine inspiration. Peter was "the man." With that in mind, we go to our text this morning of Peter's denial of his Lord. As we go through this text, keep in mind who Peter is: And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest came, 67 and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him, and said, "You, too, were with Jesus the Nazarene." (Mark 14:66-67 NASB) The word translated "courtyard" is the Greek noun aule, it means: "an area open to the sky, frequently surrounded by buildings, and in some cases partially by walls." We know from John's Gospel that the courtyard is not open to the public. Entrance is restricted by a gatekeeper: And Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so was another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest, 16 but Peter was standing at the door outside.

So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought in Peter. (John 18:15-16 NASB) In this text we see how Peter got into the courtyard of the high priest. Leon Morris states, "The other disciple had the advantage of being known to the high priest, and it seems agreed that the word known means more than casual acquaintance. It seems to indicate that the man belonged to the high priest's circle." (Leon Morris, Reflections on the Gospel of John (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1988), IV, p. 613). Most people see this "other disciple" as the Apostle John and thus realize the problem of John, a Galilean, knowing the high priest. Commenting on the "other disciple" knowing the high priest, one commentator writes, "Some have conjectured that John came to Jerusalem where he sold fish to the high priest's family. That would explain John's words here, perhaps.

It could also be as simple as the high priest owning a vacation cottage on the Sea of Galilee where John met and befriended one of his sons, and thereby became known to the family." Well, he sees a problem with the high priest knowing John, and he tries to reconcile it. Do you think the high priest had a vacation home on the Sea of Galilee? I'm sure he didn't, because there are no homes on the Sea of Galilee. The Jews fear the water and don't build homes on it. There are no homes on it today. Did John sell fish to the high priest? From Galilee to Jerusalem was about 70 miles; that's a long way to transport fish with no ice. I doubt that John was selling fish to the high priest. As a matter of fact, I know that John and the high priest did not know each other. Acts 4:1-23 tells us what happened to Peter and John following the healing of a crippled man.

Peter and John were seized and brought before the Sanhedren: And it came about on the next day, that their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; 6 and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent. (Acts 4:5-6 NASB) Now remember, this is the same group that Jesus is being tried by, and whom Peter is watching. Now notice carefully what is said: Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John, and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were marveling, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13 NASB) Notice here what these Jewish leaders recognized: It was in that moment that they suddenly understood that these men had been with Jesus. The principal thing that we need to get out of this passage is that it was at that point that the high priest and the other rulers became acquainted with Peter and John for first time. But our text in John 18 tells us that the "other disciple" was known by the high priest.

This teaches us that the high priest did not know John or Peter before this incident. So the "other disciple" could not have been John. As we have seen in the study, "The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved," this "other disciple" was not the Apostle John, the son of Zebedee, but was Lazarus whom Jesus rose from the dead. So how did Lazarus get in to the court of the high priest? Lazarus is the Greek rendering of the name Eleazar. Eleazar is a name found only in priestly lineages. As I said last week, I believe that Lazarus was a priest. As a "priest," he would be able to enter into the Beth Din, while Peter, who was a laymen, was required to remain "outside." Let me give you several reasons why I believe that Lazarus was a Jewish priest. These are also reasons why the Apostle John, a Galilean, could not have written John. 1. He knows the name of the high priest's servant­Malchus (John 18:10). All the Gospels record Peter cutting off the High Priest's servant's ear, but only Lazarus records his name. 2.

Only the Fourth Gospel records the name of the High Priest Annas. He knew the high priest by name. 3. He was familiar with the family relationships of the high priest. Only in the Fourth Gospel do we learn that Annas was father-in-law to Caiaphas. 4. Lazarus is known to the palace household. Peter has to wait outside, but Lazarus is let right in. He could have only entered if he were also a priest. 5. He was acquainted with the relationships of palace staff (John 18:26). Only the Fourth Gospel tells us that one of those who questioned Peter's association with Jesus was a relative of Malchus. 6. He was aware of the motives of the priests. Only the writer of the Fourth Gospel explains why the priests would not enter Pilate's Judgement Hall: They led Jesus therefore from Caiaphas into the Praetorium, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorium in order that they might not be defiled, but might eat the Passover.

(John 18:28 NASB) It is my opinion, based upon these facts, that Lazarus was a priest, and that is why he could enter the court of the high Priest, and that is why he could get Peter in. And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest came, 67 and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him, and said, "You, too, were with Jesus the Nazarene." (Mark 14:66-67 NASB) So Peter is in the courtyard of the high priest, and many say we must give him credit for being brave enough to be there. I don't think that it was bravery that brought Peter there that night; I think it was his pride. I think that he was so determined not to let the Lord down and also determined to show that Jesus was wrong when He said Peter would deny Him. But now that he is there in the midst of the enemies of Jesus, fears begin to possess his heart, the power of the male ego is fading.

The servant girl questions him, and he denies knowing Christ: But he denied it, saying, "I neither know nor understand what you are talking about." And he went out onto the porch. (Mark 14:68 NASB) Peter blurts out a denial. He plays stupid, "I don't know what you are talking about." The word "denied" is Greek arneomai, which means: "to state that something is not true." Related meanings are: "to disclaim association with a person or event, repudiate, disown." When Peter says, "I don't know Him," it is expressed by the Greek verb that can cover all kinds of knowledge, from information to understanding to intimate acquaintance. Here it seems to be used in the sense of "be intimately acquainted with or stand in close relation to." Peter's denial was firm. "I do not know what you are saying." This was a legal, emphatic form of denial in Rabbinical law. Peter, the big fisherman, who earlier that evening had drawn a sword and was willing to stand before the temple guard to defend his friend Jesus, now shrinks in fear at the accusations of a servant girl. What is up with that?

This reminds me of Elijah at Mount Carmel in 1 Kings 18. Elijah bravely stands against 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of the Asherah, but when threatened by Jezebel, he runs like a little girl. Peter's pride is not strong enough to back his boastful statements: But Peter answered and said to Him, "Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away." (Matthew 26:33 NASB) Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You." All the disciples said the same thing too. (Matthew 26:35 NASB) I'm sure that Peter meant this when he said it, but now his pride is falling apart under pressure. And the maid saw him, and began once more to say to the bystanders, "This is one of them!" 70 But again he was denying it.

And after a little while the bystanders were again saying to Peter, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean too." (Mark 14:69-70 NASB) Matthew and Mark tell us of Peter's denials before: (1) a slave girl, (2) a slave girl, and (3) bystanders. John's record of Peter's denials involves: (1) a slave girl, (2) those warming themselves by the fire, and (3) the slave who was a relative of Malchus. Peter denies Christ a second time. Rather than saying, "Alright, you got me! You're right, I'm from Galilee, and I've been following Jesus Christ for three years. He's the promised Messiah and the most remarkable person I've ever met. He is perfect in every way. What He speaks is absolute truth. I love Him and will follow Him to death." Instead of something along that line, Peter takes his denial to another level with determination that he will not be put into a dangerous situation because of Christ.

Notice what the bystanders say to Peter, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean too." There was no hiding for Peter. He was a Galilean fisherman with the distinctive accent from his region. They pegged him as a Galilean, and therefore, since most of Jesus' ministry took place in that region, Peter had to be part of Christ's followers. Galileans spoke in a totally different way than Judaeans. This would be like a New Yorker in Georgia, his speech gives him away. But he began to curse and swear, "I do not know this man you are talking about!" (Mark 14:71 NASB) This time Peter resorts to an oath, perhaps something common to him before becoming Christ's disciple. The oath put the denial at a deeper stage as he invoked the solemn curse on himself.

Such an oath would have brought God into the picture: "I swear to God that I do not know the man!" "I swear by the temple that I do not know the man!" Or in Southern vernacular, "If I'm lying, I'm dying!" As in the previous denial, the perfect tense of "know" is used to imply: "I don't know Him and I've never known Him!" He uses everything he knows to make it emphatic. Only hours earlier, Peter was determined to lay down his life for Christ. Now he is determined to keep his own skin at any cost, even if it means denying Christ. Now let me ask you a very important question: Could Peter be a Christian and deny Christ? Before you answer that, let's look at the words of Christ: "Everyone therefore who shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. 33 "But whoever shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 10:32-33 NASB) Jesus is speaking in terms of preparing His disciples to withstand the pressure of persecution.

He doesn't want the fear of persecutors to cause them to deny their allegiance to Jesus. Peter must have slept through this lesson. The word translated "confess" is the Greek word homologeo, which means: "declare (publicly), acknowledge, confess, declare allegiance to." It is used as the antonym of Greek arneomai, which is our word "deny." This is exactly what Peter did, he denied the Lord. Now I'm not sure what the Lord means by denying men before His Father in heaven, but I know what it doesn't mean: It doesn't mean they can't be redeemed. John tells us of some Christian Jewish leaders who would not confess Christ: Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God. (John 12:42-43 NASB) Were these individuals saved? Were they Christians? The Lordship view would say. "No," because they did not confess Him.

But the Scripture says, "They believed in Him." "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. (John 5:24 NASB) Lordship theology causes people to doubt the testimony of Scripture. Faith is believing, and believing alone makes you a Christian. So to answer our question, Yes, Peter was a Christian. At this point he was not a very good disciple, he was denying his Lord, but he was still a Christian. One commentator writes, "Open acknowledgment of Christ before men is necessary evidence that you are a Christian." Really, so "real" Christians can't deny Christ. Peter proves this is wrong. He was a real Christian, and he denied Christ. We'll discuss this further in a moment. And immediately a cock crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had made the remark to him, "Before a cock crows twice, you will deny Me three times." And he began to weep. (Mark 14:72 NASB) Jesus told Peter that he would deny Him, and Peter denied it.

Now he is a broken man. Luke tells us that immediately after Peter's last denial, Jesus was somehow able to look Peter straight in the eye, at the very time that the cock crowed: But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are talking about." And immediately, while he was still speaking, a cock crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, "Before a cock crows today, you will deny Me three times." 62 And he went out and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:60-62 NASB) While Peter is still mouthing his adamant denial, the rooster begins to crow. At that moment, Jesus is visible, turns, and makes eye contact with Peter. The word translated "looked at" is the Greek verb emblepo, which means: "to look at something directly and therefore intently." And he went out and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:62 NASB) The word translated "wept" is the common Greek verb klaio: "to cry." Peter weeps intensely.

The word "bitterly" is the Greek adverb pikros. The adjective pikros originally meant: "pointed, sharp," so the word carries the idea of sharpness, pain, severity. What were the chances that any of our Lord's disciples would avoid arrest and later be allowed to stand in the courtyard of the high priest as Jesus is being questioned? God had orchestrated matters so that Lazarus was personally acquainted with the high priest and, on the basis of this relationship, was allowed to enter the high priest's courtyard and to bring Peter along with him. It is here, in this courtyard, that our Lord's prophecies about Peter's denials are fulfilled. Once again, God's providential hand is evident in the life of our Lord, so that every prophecy pertaining to Him is fulfilled exactly. Jesus' words were prophecy, and they were fulfilled precisely at the time and in the way Jesus said they would be. Once again, we see that Jesus Christ is in control, even when life seems to be unraveling at the seems, at least for Peter: And immediately a cock crowed a second time.

And Peter remembered how Jesus had made the remark to him, "Before a cock crows twice, you will deny Me three times." And he began to weep. (Mark 14:72 NASB) What a difference a few hours make! Earlier, in the same dark hours of morning, Peter courageously unsheathed his sword to defend Jesus Christ against several hundred soldiers. Not even insurmountable odds could dissuade him from serving his Master, even at the cost of his life. Yet just a few hours later, in the chill of early morning, a lone slave-girl crushes Peter's courage and resolve. The immovable rock wilted beneath the sound of her voice. The man who would never abandon Christ became weak-kneed with the few words of a young girl, so much so, that he denied knowing anything about Jesus Christ. What went wrong? Peter thought that he had everything under control.

He was proud, and he boasted that he would never deny Jesus: And Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you, that you yourself this very night, before a cock crows twice, shall three times deny Me." 31 But Peter kept saying insistently, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" And they all were saying the same thing, too. (Mark 14:31 NASB) There was no consciousness of his own infirmities; no awareness of the power, pressure, and subtlety of temptation. Peter was convinced that he would stand if everyone else ran off. Here Peter takes the first step in falling away: Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling. (Proverbs 16:18 NASB) Instead of Peter saying, "Oh Lord, please don't let it be so, please give me strength so that I won't deny you."Peter's pride says, "I will not deny You!" Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

(1 Corinthians 10:12 NASB) Peter later, having learned his lesson, called upon all believers to be humble: You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, (1 Peter 5:5-6 NASB) Thinking himself strong and able to handle any situation, he overestimated his ability to resist temptation and underestimated his own propensity for sin. Failing to heed the warning of Christ, Peter stepped right into the path of a spiritual fall. Do you heed the warnings of Christ given in the Word? Do you heed the warnings against immorality, laziness, and complacency found in Scriptures? Do you heed the warnings in James against sins of speech and the tongue? Do you pay attention to the warnings of pride going before destruction and haughtiness before a fall? In a word, do you pay heed to what the Scripture teaches? Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

(1 Corinthians 10:12 NASB) There are many Christian young people who think. "I would never commit sexual sin." For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; (1 Thessalonians 4:3 NASB) We all know that it is God's will that we be morally pure. But too many of us think we are above this sin. Too many think, "I would never do that." If you think this way, you are in grave danger. None of us are exceptions to any type of sin. Stephen Olford once said, "I am capable of committing any sin known to man." He went on to explain the need for depending upon Christ's strength and never relying upon the flesh. Believers, we never outgrow the need for absolute dependence upon the Lord! He is to be relied upon, trusted in, looked to, and depended upon in every setting and phase of life.

Christ told Peter: "Keep watching and praying, that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Mark 14:38 NASB) Spiritual vigilance through disciplining our minds and hearts through the Word of God, worship, meditation upon the Word, obedience to His commands, and prayer move us away from self-dependence so that we might constantly be looking to the Lord. Before you're too hard on Peter, let me ask you, "Have you ever denied the Lord?" Before you answer that, you need to understand what it means to deny the Lord. 1. We can deny the Lord by an explicit and open denial­this is the kind of denial that Peter was guilty of here. In other words, there is a straightforward question, "Do you know Jesus Christ?" and the answer immediately is, "No." If you're thinking, "I would never do that," you're not listening! You're thinking you stand. We may think that there is no need for this kind of denial because we live in a free country. True, but it may not always be. 2.

We can also deny Christ by our silence­how many times have you had the opportunity to speak for Christ and you said nothing? So often our silence is denial. Later in Peter's life, he wrote: but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; (1 Peter 3:15 NASB) 3. We can deny our Lord by hypocrisy­when we live in a way contrary to the teaching of the Lord, we deny Him. I know a business man who is continually preaching the Gospel to people, but is also continually violating the Scripture's moral principles of loving each other. We are called to "Love our neighbor as our self," and if we are not doing this, we are in fact denying Christ. According to our study entitled, "Who's My Neighbor," who is it that we have to love? The Samaritans, which culturally meant their enemies. Jesus was teaching that: Even my enemy is my neighbor. Jesus says to all believers: You go, love your enemy!

So in case we are feeling a little smug when we read of Peter's denials, let me ask how many opportunities you and I have had to "stand up and testify of our faith in Jesus Christ," and yet we have chosen to remain silent? We are not that different from Peter. Who among us has not made strong resolves of faithfulness to Jesus Christ only to fall flat at the next bend in the road? It frustrates and shames us. We tell ourselves that it will never happen again. Yet, again it happens. I have some good news for you this morning: Peter's Fall is not Final. Remember the resurrection morning when Jesus met the women at the tomb? Notice what He tells them: "But go, tell His disciples and Peter, 'He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He said to you.'" (Mark 16:7 NASB) After he denies Christ, Peter drops out of the picture; we know nothing more about what happened to him until the women come with the good news of the resurrection. Peter repented of his sin, and the Lord forgave him and continued to use him.

Peter was the first apostle to publicly preach the Gospel after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and three thousand were added to the church in one day. He was the first to have the Holy Spirit work through him in miraculous ways. We're all familiar with the first recorded instance of a healing through Peter: But Peter said, "I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene-- walk!" 7 And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. 8 And with a leap, he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.

(Acts 3:6-8 NASB) It was this same Peter, in light of this incident with the crippled man, who boldly confronted the religious leaders of Jerusalem in such a way as to rebuke them for not being true to their Scriptures regarding the Messiah: Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers and elders of the people, 9 if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, 10 let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead-- by this name this man stands here before you in good health. 11 "He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone.

12 "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:8-12 NASB) It was Peter who was used by the Holy Spirit to put the fear of God in the church when Ananias and Sapphira lied to God about what they had done with their possessions. As each came into Peter's presence, he pronounced God's displeasure with them, and they immediately fell dead. Peter was a heavy weight in the church, and people loved him and admired him and respected him for his work in the church and among the Jews of his day. It's no coincidence that the Roman Catholic church places Peter on the pedestal. Though they are entirely wrong about declaring him to be the first Vicar of Christ on earth, or the first pope, it shows us that early on Peter was held in high esteem. Just in case you are losing touch with Peter and all his boldness for Christ, let me remind you that even post-Pentecost Peter has his issues.

In Galatians 2 we are told that Paul had to confront Peter in Antioch, he rebukes him to his face for what would be a denial of the true Gospel. Peter, out of fear, compromised his convictions, even though he knew it was wrong. God had personally shown Peter that it was okay to eat with Gentiles. But his fear of men weakened his faith in God. And worst of all, his bad example caused the other Jewish Christians to follow his example. We often hear that Peter was a different man after Pentecost, and he was, but we see here that Peter still struggled with the same weaknesses. We are a lot like Peter, aren't we? When was the last time fear tainted your faith? When was the last time fear caused you to shrink away from what was right so that you could avoid discomfort? When was the last time fear led you to push away people that God had led into your life? Discomfort, distress, fear, and embarrassment will always leave us looking back with remorse and regret. Believers, there will never come a time in our Christian lives when we won't need to live in dependence upon God.

And whenever we think that we can stand in our own strength, we are in trouble. The Christian life in every area is to be lived in the power of the Spirit. We are to ever and always be walking by means of the Spirit. Media #386 Continue the Series Berean Bible Church provides this material free of charge for the edification of the Body of Christ. You can help further this work by your prayer and by contributing online or by mailing to: Berean Bible Church Mark 14:66-72 Mark 14:66-72 Peter Denies Jesus Three Times... Fearing for his life, Peter denied being one of Christ's disciples: While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the high priest's maids came along. Seeing Peter warming himself, she looked intently at him and said, "You too were with the Nazarene, Jesus." But he denied it saying, "I neither know nor understand what you are talking about." So he went out into the outer court. [Then the cock crowed.] The maid saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, "This man is one of them." Once again he denied it.

A little later the bystanders said to Peter once more, "Surely you are one of them; for you too are a Galilean." He began to curse and to swear, "I do not know this man about whom you are talking." And immediately a cock crowed a second time. Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had said to him, "Before the cock crows twice you will deny me three times." He broke down and wept. -Mark 14:66-72, NAB Peter and the other Apostles told Jesus that their faith would not be shaken ( read more ), but in Mark 14:30, Jesus predicted that Peter would deny Him three times before the cock crowed twice (by morning, in other words). Today's verse shows that prediction coming true. Jesus had chosen Peter to lead the Church when He gave him the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 16:19). Peter often stepped up as the leader and voice of the Apostles. It was obvious that his fate was to lead the young Church, but how could he? He could not even stand by Christ's side in His greatest hour of need.

If Peter could not change, the Church was in a lot of trouble. We, too, will face times of trial. Will we be cowards like Peter, or will we have the courage to stand up for our beliefs in the public square? Can we boldly share our faith regardless of what the consequences may be? Of course, we know how the story turns out. Peter showed a lack of faith in this verse; nonetheless, he eventually overcame his fears and led the Church in its infancy. He was imprisoned for his faith, and eventually crucified (upside down), but he remained faithful to Christ from throughout his life. Have you denied Christ? Are there times that you were not faithful to God? Do not despair. Peter overcame his failings to become one of the most important leaders the Church has ever had. Despite his weakness, God used him to build up the Church from a few followers to the large body of believers that it is today. Christ can do the same with you; you only need to give Him the chance. For years, I was a faithful follower of Christ. I was active in my local church, helped with a variety of ministries, and was not afraid to wear my faith on my sleeve.

But when times got tough, I lost faith and fell away from God. I stumbled for many years trying to find the faith I once had. Eventually, after my conversion to Catholicism, I was able to renew my faith and once again become a devoted follower of Christ. God took a weak man like Peter and made him a saint. God even took a wayward follower like me and gave me the strength to renew my faith. Let God work a miracle in you too. You may have been weak; you may have lost your way; but God can work miracles in your life... and in ways that you could never imagine. How many times did the cock crow? Printed from How many times did the cock crow? Three gospels agree; one does not, supposedly. Only Mark says that the rooster would and did crow twice. In order to examine this claim, though, we need to look at the verses of concern and offer some textual-critical data -- because there are actually three we need to talk about. Mark 14:30 And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.

Mark 14:68 But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew. Mark 14:72 And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept. The textual tradition is not unanimous for any of these verses. In all cases, some say twice; others lack it, and there is a mix of combinations. But what it runs down to, in terms of weight of evidence, is that 14:30 and 14:72 are likely to have been part of Mark originally, whereas the key verse in 14:68 ("and the cock crew") is not, and was likely added to make the fulfillment of Jesus' prediction more exact. That said, what of the fact that the other gospels do not say "twice"? Strictly speaking, there is no contradiction in action, since of course if Peter denied before the cock crowed once, he also did it before the cock crowed twice.

In that light, I would suggest that Mark offers the original verbiage of the prediction (as might be expected, if Mark is recording from Peter), while the other gospels contain a modified and simplified oral tradition that follows the usual oral-tradition pattern. Bear in mind that within this context, this is not considered "contradiction" or "error" -- no ancient reader would have thought this. Compromises in narrative presentation were often necessary to make a text more memorable for a population that was 90% illiterate. Intentional, structured changes for a purpose are not, under such a semantic contract, an error. Keener's Matthew commentary [635] adds a salient point: A cock's crowing lasted as long as five minutes and occurred at all hours; as Cicero wrote: "Is there any time, night or day, that cocks do not crow?" The "second" cockcrowing was usually associated with the dawn. -JPH

Question: According to the Bible, who denied knowing Jesus 3 times "before the cock crowed twice"?
Answer: Peter