New Testament in a Year
54 Meanwhile, Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest, and he was sitting there with the attendants, warming himself at the fire.
55 The chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin[a] tried to elicit testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they failed in their efforts. 56 Many witnesses offered perjured testimony against him, but their statements did not agree. 57 Then some stood up and gave this false witness against him: 58 “We heard this man say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands, and in three days I will build another not made with hands.’ ” 59 But even on this point their statements did not agree.
60 The high priest then rose among them and asked Jesus, “Have you no reply to counter the testimony that these witnesses have given?” 61 [b]But he remained silent and offered no response. Again, the high priest questioned him, asking, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”[c] 62 Jesus replied, “I am.
And you will see the Son of Man
seated at the right hand of the Power
and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
63 Thereupon the high priest tore his garments and exclaimed, “What need do we have of any further witnesses! 64 You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” They all condemned him as guilty and deserving of death. 65 Some of them began to spit at him. They blindfolded him and struck him, taunting him as they said, “Prophesy!” And the guards also slapped him.
66 Peter Denies Jesus.[d] While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the high priest’s servant girls came by. 67 When she noticed Peter warming himself, she stared at him and said, “You also were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.” 68 But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are talking about.” Thereupon he went forth into the outer courtyard. Then the cock crowed.[e] 69 The servant girl saw him and again began to say to the bystanders: “This man is one of them.” 70 But again he denied it.
Shortly afterward, some bystanders said to Peter, “You are unquestionably one of them, for you are a Galilean.” 71 Then he began to shout curses, and he swore an oath: “I do not know this man you are talking about.” 72 At that very moment, a cock crowed for a second time, and Peter remembered that Jesus had said to him, “Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
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