54Having seized him, they led him and brought him into the high priest's house. Peter was following at a distance. [22:55] When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. [22:56] A young female slave, seeing him seated at the fire and staring at him, said, "This one was also with him." [22:57] Peter denied it: "Woman, I do not know him." [22:58] A short time later, another saw him and said, "You are also one of them." Peter said, "Man, I am not." [22:59] About an hour later, someone else insisted, "Certainly this one was also with him, for he is a Galilean." [22:60] Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are saying." And immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. [22:61] The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord — how he had said: "Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times." [22:62] And going outside, Peter wept bitterly.
LUK 22:54-62
Peter Denies Jesus
In the world it was spoken into
In the first-century Jewish context, the high priest’s courtyard was a space of both privilege and danger. It was a place where the elite gathered, often under the watchful eyes of servants and slaves. Peter’s presence here, following Jesus’ arrest, was fraught with risk. The servant girl who recognized Peter was likely a young female slave, a figure of low social status yet keenly observant of those around her. Her accusation, “This one was with Him,” carried weight in a culture where association with a condemned figure like Jesus could mean guilt by proximity. Peter’s denials, repeated three times, reflect the honor-shame dynamics of the time, where public acknowledgment of such a connection could lead to social ostracism or worse. The irony of Peter’s denial is heightened by the term , which can mean both 'to seize' and 'to help,' underscoring the tension between Peter’s earlier pledge of loyalty and his current failure to stand with Jesus. The scene unfolds in the shadow of the Passover, a time of heightened tension and scrutiny in Jerusalem, where loyalty and betrayal were starkly contrasted.
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How other translations render this
LUK 22:54
- KJV
- Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest’s house. And Peter followed afar off.
- BSB
- Then they seized Jesus, led Him away, and took Him into the house of the high priest. And Peter followed at a distance.
- Koinōnos
- Having seized him, they led him and brought him into the high priest's house. Peter was following at a distance.
LUK 22:55
- KJV
- And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.
- BSB
- When those present had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them.
- Koinōnos
- When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them.
LUK 22:56
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- A servant girl saw him seated in the firelight and looked intently at him. “This man also was with Him,” she said.
- Koinōnos
- A young female slave, seeing him seated at the fire and staring at him, said, "This one was also with him.
LUK 22:57
- KJV
- And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.
- BSB
- But Peter denied it. “Woman, I do not know Him,” he said.
- Koinōnos
- Peter denied it: "Woman, I do not know him.
LUK 22:58
- KJV
- And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.
- BSB
- A short time later, someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.”
- Koinōnos
- A short time later, another saw him and said, "You are also one of them." Peter said, "Man, I am not.
LUK 22:59
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- About an hour later, another man insisted, “Certainly this man was with Him, for he too is a Galilean.”
- Koinōnos
- About an hour later, someone else insisted, "Certainly this one was also with him, for he is a Galilean.
LUK 22:60
- KJV
- And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.
- BSB
- “Man, I do not know what you are talking about,” Peter replied. And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.
- Koinōnos
- Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are saying." And immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.
LUK 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.
- BSB
- And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word that the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.”
- Koinōnos
- The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord — how he had said: "Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.
LUK 22:62
- KJV
- And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.
- BSB
- And he went outside and wept bitterly.
- Koinōnos
- And going outside, Peter wept bitterly.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
LUK 22:54
- Having seized:The word translated 'Having seized' implies not just taking hold, but a forceful apprehension, often with the intent of capture or arrest.
LUK 22:55
- courtyard:The term translated 'courtyard' refers to an open, unroofed area within or in front of a house, often serving as a central gathering space, not merely a paved area.
LUK 22:56
- a servant girl:The word translated 'a servant girl' specifically denotes a young female slave or bondmaid, highlighting her social status and lack of freedom, rather than just a young woman who serves.
LUK 22:61
- declaration:The word translated 'declaration' is a very broad term that can mean a word, speech, account, or message, encompassing both the content and the act of speaking it.