Peter Denies Jesus

15 Meanwhile, Simon Peter(A) was following Jesus, as was another disciple. That disciple was an acquaintance of the high priest; so he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard. 16 But Peter remained standing outside by the door. So the other disciple, the one known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the girl who was the doorkeeper and brought Peter in.

17 Then the slave girl who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?”

“I am not!” he said. 18 Now the slaves and the temple police had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold. They were standing there warming themselves, and Peter was standing with them, warming himself.

Jesus before Annas

19 The high priest(B) questioned Jesus about His disciples and about His teaching.

20 “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus answered him. “I have always taught in the synagogue(C) and in the temple complex,(D) where all the Jews congregate, and I haven’t spoken anything in secret. 21 Why do you question Me? Question those who heard what I told them. Look, they know what I said.”

22 When He had said these things, one of the temple police standing by slapped Jesus, saying, “Is this the way you answer the high priest?”

23 “If I have spoken wrongly,” Jesus answered him, “give evidence[a] about the wrong; but if rightly,(E) why do you hit Me?”

24 Then(F) Annas(G) sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Peter Denies Jesus Twice More

25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said to him, “You aren’t one of His disciples too, are you?”

He denied it and said, “I am not!”

26 One of the high priest’s slaves, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you with Him in the garden?”

27 Peter then denied it again. Immediately a rooster crowed.(H)

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Footnotes

  1. John 18:23 Or him, testify

Peter’s First Denial(A)

15 Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest,(B) he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard,(C) 16 but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in.

17 “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you?” she asked Peter.

He replied, “I am not.”(D)

18 It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire(E) they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.(F)

The High Priest Questions Jesus(G)

19 Meanwhile, the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching.

20 “I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues(H) or at the temple,(I) where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.(J) 21 Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.”

22 When Jesus said this, one of the officials(K) nearby slapped him in the face.(L) “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.

23 “If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?”(M) 24 Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas(N) the high priest.

Peter’s Second and Third Denials(O)

25 Meanwhile, Simon Peter was still standing there warming himself.(P) So they asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples too, are you?”

He denied it, saying, “I am not.”(Q)

26 One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off,(R) challenged him, “Didn’t I see you with him in the garden?”(S) 27 Again Peter denied it, and at that moment a rooster began to crow.(T)

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