Luke 22:56-60
Luke 22:56 (KJB)
But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon
him, and said, This man was also with him.
Peter was still sitting outside in the inner court and a young girl had
approached him saying that he was also with Jesus of Galilee. (John 18:17
KJV) Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one
of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not. This girl was one who kept the
door in the inner court and was probably one of the maid servants of the High
Priest. She recognized him and knew who he was even though he denied it.
Luke 22:57 (KJB)
And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.
He had denied what she said and completely refuted her remarks. The bravery that
Peter had shown in the Garden of Gethsemane was now waning and turning into fear
as he now fears for his own life. Peter thought that by hiding out with the High
Priest’s henchmen it would give him a cover and he would not be recognized.
Luke 22:58 (KJB)
And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And
Peter said, Man, I am not.
Peter now knowing that he had been discovered as being with Jesus decides to
leave the inner court and head out on to the porch where he could hopefully
remain anonymous within the crowd. Then Peter was noticed by a second maid and
she too made the declaration that Peter was with Jesus. The first maid saw Him
as being with Jesus of Galilee and this one noticed he was with Jesus of
Nazareth. They both must have seen Peter with Jesus in one of his stops as they
ministered all over Israel. Peter must have been of such stature that he was
easily remembered.
Luke 22:59 (KJB)
And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a
truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean.
(Mat 26:73 KJV) And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said
to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.
Peter was then addressed the third time by some of those who were standing by.
This time they stated that his speech or the fact that he had some type of
dialog difference than those in Judaea. Peter was from the north, the Sea of
Galilee and they had a different dialect and was easily distinguishable. It
would be like hearing someone from Alabama speak and someone from Massachusetts
speak. The tone, inflection, and dialect would be easily distinguishable.
Peter’s speech had given him away and that was not something one could hide
easily.
Luke 22:60 (KJB)
And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet
spake, the cock crew.
Then Peter’s third and final denial was the pinnacle of his repudiation of
Christ. He not only told the people that he did not know the man personally but
he started to curse. This cursing was not bad language but he was stating that
let everything bad happen to him which could possibly happen if he knew him.
Then on top of pronouncing curses upon himself, he also swore by an oath that he
did know Jesus. Immediately after he made his third denial, then the rooster had
crowed and the prophesy that Christ told him came to pass.