Matthew 26:71-75

Mat 26:71 (KJB)
And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.

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.

Mat 26:72 (KJB)
And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.

This was the second denial that Peter did and he even denied Jesus with an oath. Peter did not say that he knew nothing about the man but that he had no personal connection with Him. As Peter began to deny, his actions became more sinful. Just as his boasting of defending Jesus to the death was stronger, his denials were more emphatic. It is a simple principle. The louder the boasting of a person who elevates themselves, the harder they fall.

Mat 26:73 (KJB)
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.

Bewrayeth - Clear or evident

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.

Mat 26:74 (KJB)
Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately 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.

Mat 26:75 (KJB)
And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

(Luke 22:61 KJV) And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Apparently Peter was still within sight of the Lord Jesus Christ because when the rooster crowed, the Lord looked at Peter and Peter then remembered the words that he would deny Jesus three times. Then Peter had finally left the palace and went out and wept bitterly. The word for “bitterly” in the Greek carries with it the meaning of a great depth of sorrow. It was not just the shedding of a few tears but deep sorrow.

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