Peter Denies Jesus^(A)

⁶⁶ While Peter was down in the courtyard, one of the high priest’s servant girls came by. ⁶⁷ When she saw Peter warming himself, she glared at him and said, “You, too, were with Jesus from Nazareth.”

⁶⁸ But he denied it, saying, “I don’t know—or even understand—what you’re talking about!” Then he went out into the entryway. Just then a rooster crowed.^[a]

⁶⁹ The servant girl saw him and again told those who were standing around, “This man is one of them!” ⁷⁰ Again he denied it.

After a little while, the people who were standing there began to say to Peter again, “Obviously you’re one of them, because you are a Galilean!”

⁷¹ Then he began to invoke a divine curse and to swear with an oath, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about!” ⁷² Just then a rooster crowed a second time.

Peter remembered that Jesus told him, “Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” Then he broke down and cried.