71 And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” (Matthew 26:71–72 (ESV)
69 And the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” 70 But again he denied it.” (Mark 14:69–70a (ESV)
58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” (Luke 22:58 (ESV)
25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” (John 18:25 (ESV)
Jesus had experienced two of His three religious trials. Simon Peter’s denial of Jesus also transpired in three trials, as Jesus predicted (Matt. 26:30-35). Therefore, it is wise to examine each denial in order of their occurrence. The purpose of this is not to just voyeuristically observe a historical event. Rather, it is also to identify the circumstances of this historical event and how it may apply in our own lives as believers in Christ.
Peter remains in the high priest’s courtyard. Fear gripped him and an initial denial of knowing Jesus proceeded from his lips. However, he did not leave. His loyalty to Jesus was displayed more by his bodily behavior than his lying words.
“It seems that in his frustration as a result of the first embarrassment, Peter tried to get out of the building. He had been in the roofless courtyard, among the palace servants and temple guards, warming himself by the fire (Mark 14:54), but now things are becoming “too hot” for him. He is probably afraid that at any moment an underling may grab him and make him a prisoner. Perhaps the thought occurs to him, “What will happen to me if they find out that I’m the man who slashed off the ear of Malchus?” So he must try to escape from the palace as quickly as possible,” explains Dr. William Hendriksen.
Luke recorded a little time had passed since Peter’s first denial (Luke 22:58a). Matthew stated Peter was now at the courtyard’s entrance (Matt. 26:71a). John wrote Peter was standing and warming himself, presumably by another fire (John 18:25a). The time reference and Peter’s behavior are not contradicted by the Gospel writers.
It was then a second servant girl approached Peter (Matt. 26:71b). Mark wrote she was the servant girl (Mark 14:69a). Initially, it may appear Mark was saying it was the same girl who previously approached Peter, but this not necessarily the case. There were many servant girls of the high priest (Mark 14:26). Luke said it was someone else and mentioned no particular gender (Luke 22:58a). John stated it was an unidentified group of people (bystanders, Matt. 26:71) who joined the servant girl’s inquiry (John 18:25a).
The servant girls said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth” (Matt. 26:71b), ““This man is one of them” (Mark 14:69b), “You also are one of them” (Luke 22:58b), and “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” (John 18:25b).
“The portresses are unwilling to let him out. He gets no farther than the entranceway or vestibule which via the gate leads to the road. Several people are standing around. It would seem that the portress who is about to go off duty has already told the news about Peter to the girl who has come to relieve her. So both of these girls (cf. Matt. 26:71 and Mark 14:69) now say to those who are standing around, “This fellow was with Jesus the Nazarene.” The constant reference to “of Galilee,” “the Nazarene” may imply scorn, but this is by no means certain. See on Matt. 2:23 and also on John 1:46. At least one male bystander chimes in with what the girls are saying (Luke 22:58),” states Dr. Hendriksen.
In all four Gospel accounts, Peter denied knowing the Lord. “And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man” (Matt. 26:72), “But again he denied it” (Mark 14:71a), ““Man, I am not” (Luke 22:58), and “I am not” (John 1 8:25).
“Note “the man,” as if Jesus were a complete stranger to him. This time Simon is beside himself with rage and frustration. He does something that he had not done during the first denial. With an oath he begins to deny his connection with Jesus. Forcefully he maintains, “I don’t know the man.” Christ’s oath (Matt. 26:63, 64) and Peter’s (Matt. 26:72, 74), what a contrast! The former confirms the truth; the latter sanctions the lie,” concludes Dr. Hendriksen.
Soli deo Gloria!
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