II: Peter's Denial
John xviii. 12-18, 25-27; Luke xxii. 54-62; Matt. xxvi. 58, 69-75;Mark mxiv. 54, 66-72.
During this same night was accomplished what was foretold them by the Lord: while He stood for His trial before Annas and Caïphas, Peter, the Chief of the Apostles, denied Him thrice.
The Evangelists note with considerable care the moment of these acts of infidelity; but they report the language and the circumstances so differently that it is quite impossible to regard them as the same words uttered on the same occasions. Instead of limiting the recusancy of the Apostle to three disavowals framed by his lips, we believe it more likely that three distinct times during this night Peter was recognized by various persons, and that on least three occasions he proved false to his master, each time reiterating his denial under different forms and before more than one witness. No one thing goes so far toward proving the independence of each single Evangelist regarding the others as the freedom which they display in making their selections from the words and actions which still remained fresh in their memories, and the little pains they are at in order to make their narratives agree upon such points as this.
When we compare the evidence, with this idea in mind, and without confusing their testimony, we find that each of them furnishes us with some new features in the stories, wherein the abundance of details, the variety and stirring movements of the characters serve to set Peter's falsehoods and downfall in stronger relief. To clearly understand the order of the incidents it behoves us to return to the first hours succeeding the scene in the garden.
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| Peter and John follow Jesus. J-J Tissot |
Two of the Apostles, after recovering from their first terror, retraced their steps in order to follow the road taken by the Saviour. Peter, who was one of them, lingered at a distance, but the other disciple drew nearer the troop of armed men; it was John, henceforth steadfastly exposing himself to every peril at the Master's side, and never quitting His sight. As he was known at the pontifical palace he managed to enter there with Jesus, not noticing that his companion no longer followed him. The latter, fearing to appear inside the courtyard, hung back in the darkness without.
Perceiving his absence John went out, spoke a word to the servant-maid who tended the wicket, and so introduced him into the house.
Casting a curious glance at the stranger, the portress asked sharply: " Aren't you to one of this man's disciples?"
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| Peter's first denial.J-J Tissot. |
"No, I am not!" Replied Peter, and hurried quickly out of her away.
At this season of the year the night time in Judaea is all the cooler in proportion to the extreme heats of the day. To protect themselves from the cold the guards and manservant had lighted in the lower court a small pile of such thorny brushwood as grows in abundance about Jerusalem. Seated in this little circle Peter was warming his trembling hands, "awaiting the end," when for the second time he encountered the keen glance of the portress.
She was scrutinising him fixedly by the aid of the firelight.
" Certainly," she said, " you were with Jesus of Nazareth."
Then before all present Peter denied Him, saying, " I do not know what you mean to assert."
But she persisted that she was right, telling the others:—
"Certainly, I know he was with him."
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| Peter's second denial. J-J Tissot. |
"Woman," Peter retorted again, "I do not even know Him."
Then in great trouble of mind he walked away from the group of curious bystanders; and at that moment was heard the first crow of the cock.
As he neared the great door he met with another maidservant, to whom it would seem the portress had confided her suspicions. She too said to the waiting men and the rest standing about,—
"This man was with Jesus of Nazareth."
And Peter denied it with an oath.
The other maid in charge of the doorr had persisted in following after him, and at this she spoke up again,—
"Surely," she said, "this is one of them."
Again he denied it.
One of the spectators in this scene addressed the Apostle with the query: "What! Are you one of that set yonder?"
"Man," retorted Peter, "I am not one of them."
John had heard the first denial at the entrance way of the palace, but altogether bent thereafter upon watching the trial of Jesus he was not a witness to the scenes just enacted, and related by the Synoptic Writers only. When he glanced out into the court the servants were stirring up the fire and warming themselves, for the night air was growing exceeding chill. Peter, stationed near them, still stood there warming himself. Driven back from the door by his harassing questioners he had returned to his former standing place. John overheard the voice of someone saying to him:—
"You too are one of his disciples;" whereat he replied:—
"No, I am not."
Tired at last of questioning him they left him unmolested for nearly an hour, but at length, after he had been drawn into a moment's conversation with his neighbours, they exclaimed:—
"Certainly you are one of his disciples, for your accent betrays you. You are a Galilean."
One of the High-Priest's servants, a kinsman of Malchus whose ear Peter had cut off, added:—
"Did I not see you in the garden with him?"
Once more Peter's courage failed him.
"I do not know what you're talking about," he cried; "I do not know this Man of Whom are you speak." And his fear betrayed itself in a stream of curses and oaths. He was still fiercely protesting when the cock crew for the second time.
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| Peter's third denial. J-J Tissot. |
It was then that Jesus turned and looked at him.
This was more than Peter could bear. Suddenly he remembered how the Master had said to him:—
"Before cock-crow thou shalt have denied Me thrice."
Overwhelmed with despair and beside himself, he had no further thought of the danger which threatened his steps. At his great outburst of grief the crowd fell back in surprise, leaving him a free passage. Rushing by the more he found his way out of the palace, and, thinking upon the words of Jesus, he wept bitterly.
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| Peter wept bitterly. J-J Tissot. |
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