14:66-72 Prior to his trial before the Sanhedrin, Jesus predicted Peter's denial of him. After the trial, the prediction was fulfilled. Peter had, indeed, followed Jesus, but at a distance. As Peter was in the courtyard of the palace,...one of the maids of the high priest...saw him warming himself. She stared intently and then said, You were with Jesus of Nazareth. But Peter denied it, saying, I don't know or understand what you are saying. A cock crew. Apparently, Peter had forgotten Jesus' prophecy.
Later on, she saw him again, and mentioned to them that stood by, This is one of them. Peter denied it again. Not long thereafter, others standing around said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean. But Peter began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man ... Having earlier vehemently proclaimed that he was ready to die with Jesus, Peter now curses and denies that he knew this man. But in the deepest sense, he might have been right. Did he truly know Jesus, even after confessing that he was the Christ, See Mark 8:29 and participating in his ministry?
And the...cock crew. Suddenly Peter remembered that Jesus had said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. He had just done what he said he would never do. And he wept bitterly.
