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Luke 22:54–62
“The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.’ And he went out and wept bitterly” (vv. 61–62).
Once Jesus was arrested, the officials took Him to the high priest’s house, according to Luke 22:54. The other Gospels tell us that He was questioned by the high priest, who was Caiaphas at the time (Matt. 26:57–68). John 18:12–24 tells us that Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, also questioned Jesus that night. Luke does not describe the proceedings that occurred that night, but he picks up his account when the next morning dawned. Other differences exist between the four Gospel writers in their recounting of Jesus’ trial and Peter’s denial, but they are not irreconcilable. The trial before the Jewish officials lasted throughout the night into the morning, and each author included the facts that he thought most pertinent to his original audience. Also, there are many ways to give an accurate historical account. From the Gospels, it seems clear that Peter’s denial of Jesus happened more or less simultaneously with His trial before Caiaphas. One could recount the events by first describing the trial and then describing the betrayal, as Matthew and Mark do (Matt. 26:57–75; Mark 14:53–72). One could choose to interweave the accounts, as John does (John 18:12–27). Or one could choose to narrate the betrayal first and then the trial, as Luke does (Luke 22:54–71). Unless an author is claiming to give a strictly chronological account, we should not fault him for ordering things otherwise.
Peter’s threefold denial of Jesus certainly ranks as one of the best-known stories in the Gospels. As the disciple was interrogated, his insistence that he did not know Jesus grew more vehement (vv. 55–60). He was determined that no one know that he was Jesus’ friend and disciple. Peter likely feared that the authorities would punish him the same way that they were punishing Jesus. This warns us to be on guard against the fear of men, for we can be likewise tempted to deny Jesus to escape suffering at the hands of others.
Note that Peter fell far, but he did not fall away from Christ finally. Luke notes that once Peter made his last denial, Jesus looked at him and he ran away, weeping bitterly. This was the beginning of true repentance unto life, which was granted to him by Christ but not to the others upon whom Jesus looked. Matthew Henry comments: “Christ looked on the chief priests, and made no impression upon them as he did on Peter, who had the divine seed remaining in him to work upon. It was not the look from Christ, but the grace of God with it, that recovered Peter, and brought him to rights.”
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
John Calvin gives a warning to Christian leaders based on this passage. He writes, “The more eminent a man is, therefore, he ought to be the more careful to be on his guard; for his elevation makes it impossible for him to fall from it without doing greater harm.” Christian leaders who fall can lead many to question the faith. Let us seek to hold one another accountable, including leaders, so that we may persevere in holiness.
For further study
- Isaiah 1:27
- Matthew 26:69–75
- John 21:15–19
- 1 John 1:8–10
The bible in a year
- Ezekiel 13–15
- Hebrews 11:17–40