Peter’s Second and Third Denials^(A)

²⁵ Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself.^(B) So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?”

He denied it, saying, “I am not.”^(C)

¹⁷ “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter.

He replied, “I am not.”^(A)

¹⁸ It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire^(B) they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.^(C)

⁶⁷ When she saw Peter warming himself,^(A) she looked closely at him.

“You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,”^(B) she said.

⁶⁸ But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,”^(C) he said, and went out into the entryway.^[a]

⁶⁹ When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” ⁷⁰ Again he denied it.^(D)

After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”^(E)

⁷¹ He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.”^(F)

⁷² Immediately the rooster crowed the second time.^[b] Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice^[c] you will disown me three times.”^(G) And he broke down and wept.

⁵⁸ A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”

“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.

⁵⁹ About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”^(A)

⁶⁰ Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. ⁶¹ The Lord^(B) turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.”^{(C) 62} And he went outside and wept bitterly.

³⁷ Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? ³⁸ Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.^(A) The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”^(B)

⁷¹ Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

⁷² He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”

⁷³ After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.”

⁷⁴ Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!”

Immediately a rooster crowed. ⁷⁵ Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”^(A) And he went outside and wept bitterly.

¹⁵ Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.”

But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”

⁵⁶ A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”