Peter's Denial and Repentance
Matthew 26:69-75
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Matt.26.69 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- Πετρος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εκαθητο: VERB,impf,mp,ind,3,sg
- εξω: ADV
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- αυλη·και: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- προσηλθεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- μια: NUM,nom,sg,f
- παιδισκη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- λεγουσα·Και: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,f
- συ: PRON,nom,sg,2
- ησθα: VERB,impf,act,ind,2,sg
- μετα: PREP
- Ιησου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- Γαλιλαιου·: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Mark 14:66-68 (verbal): Mark gives the parallel account of Peter in the courtyard where a servant-maid accuses him of being with Jesus; wording and sequence closely match Matthew's narrative.
- Luke 22:56-57 (structural): Luke narrates the same episode (Peter seated by the fire, a servant-girl recognizing him) with different details (the fire, staring) but the same pattern of recognition and accusation.
- John 18:17-18 (verbal): John records a servant-maid at the door identifying Peter as one of Jesus' followers; similar accusation though with slight difference in phrasing and emphasis.
- Matt.26:73-75 (structural): Immediate continuation within Matthew: further accusations by bystanders and Peter's subsequent denials, completing the same denial scene begun in 26:69.
Alternative generated candidates
- Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant-girl came to him and said, 'You too were with Jesus the Galilean.'
- Now Peter was sitting outside in the high priest’s courtyard; a servant girl came to him and said, 'You too were with Jesus the Galilean.'
Matt.26.70 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- ηρνησατο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- εμπροσθεν: PREP
- παντων: ADJ,gen,pl,ne
- λεγων·Ουκ: PTC,pres,act,nom,sg,m
- οιδα: VERB,perf,act,ind,1,sg
- τι: ADV
- λεγεις: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
Parallels
- Mark 14:68 (verbal): Peter's denial uses nearly identical wording ('I neither know nor understand what you mean'), directly paralleling Matthew's report of the second denial.
- Luke 22:57-58 (verbal): Luke records the same sequence of denials at the same point (the second denial: 'Woman, I do not know him'), matching Matthew's account in content and placement.
- John 18:25-27 (thematic): John gives the fuller threefold denial scene (including the second denial and the rooster crowing), thematically parallel to Matthew 26:70's report of Peter denying Jesus.
- Matt.26:72 (structural): The immediate following verse in Matthew describes the third denial and intensifies the sequence begun in 26:70, showing the progression of Peter's denials within Matthew's narrative.
- Mark 14:71 (verbal): Mark's account of the third denial ('he began to curse and swear, saying, I know not this man') parallels Matthew's development of the denials and echoes similar language and escalation.
Alternative generated candidates
- But he denied it before them all, saying, 'I do not know what you mean.'
- But he denied it before them all, saying, 'I do not know what you mean.'
Matt.26.71 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εξελθοντα: VERB,aor,act,part,acc,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- εις: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- πυλωνα: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- ειδεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m,3
- αλλη: ADV
- και: CONJ
- λεγει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,m
- εκει·Ουτος: ADV+PRON,nom,sg,m
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- μετα: PREP
- Ιησου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- Ναζωραιου·: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Mark 14:66-68 (verbal): Parallel account of the same denial scene: a servant girl in the high priest's courtyard identifies Peter and he denies knowing Jesus; wording and sequence closely correspond to Matthew's report.
- Luke 22:57-58 (thematic): Luke recounts a bystander recognizing Peter and Peter's ensuing denial; emphasizes how Peter's manner of speech betrays him, echoing the theme of identification and denial.
- John 18:25-27 (verbal): John retells Peter warming himself by the fire and being questioned, 'Art not thou also one of his disciples?' followed by Peter's denial (threefold); provides a closely matching verbal and situational parallel.
- Matt.26:73 (structural): Immediate Matthean parallel within the same narrative: another bystander insists Peter was with Jesus, prompting a further denial—part of the threefold accusation/denial structure in Matthew's account.
Alternative generated candidates
- And when he had gone out to the gateway, another servant-girl saw him and said to those standing there, 'This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.'
- And when he went out into the gateway, another servant girl saw him and said to those there, 'This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.'
Matt.26.72 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- παλιν: ADV
- ηρνησατο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- μετα: PREP
- ορκου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- οτι: CONJ
- Ουκ: PART,neg
- οιδα: VERB,perf,act,ind,1,sg
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- ανθρωπον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Mark 14:71 (verbal): Mark records the same second denial: Peter again denies knowing Jesus, with virtually identical wording and the addition of an oath—clear verbal parallel to Matthew 26:72.
- Luke 22:58 (verbal): Luke recounts Peter's second denial in the courtyard—'Man, I am not'/'I do not know him'—serving as a close verbal and narrative parallel to Matthew's account.
- John 18:25 (verbal): John's courtyard scene includes Peter's denials; one of the exchanges ('I am not') corresponds to the denials Matthew describes, providing an independent eyewitness-style parallel.
- Matt.26:35 (structural): Peter's earlier sworn claim that he would never deny Jesus (Matt. 26:35) forms a structural and thematic contrast with the denial in 26:72, highlighting irony and the fulfillment of Jesus' prediction.
Alternative generated candidates
- Again he denied it with an oath: 'I do not know the man.'
- Again he denied it with an oath, 'I do not know the man.'
Matt.26.73 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- μετα: PREP
- μικρον: ADV
- δε: CONJ
- προσελθοντες: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,pl,m
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- εστωτες: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,pl,m
- ειπον: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- Πετρω·Αληθως: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- συ: PRON,nom,sg,2
- εξ: PREP
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,3
- ει: COND
- και: CONJ
- γαρ: CONJ
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- λαλια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- δηλον: ADV
- σε: PRON,acc,sg,2
- ποιει·: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Mark 14:70 (verbal): Almost word-for-word parallel: bystanders tell Peter, “Surely you are one of them; for you are a Galilean, and your speech betrays you,” matching Matthew’s charge that his speech reveals him.
- Mark 14:71 (structural): Continues the same narrative: Peter denies a second time and the crowd points to his Galilean origin/accent—paralleling Matthew’s sequence of identification and denial.
- Luke 22:59 (thematic): Another observer identifies Peter as a follower because he is a Galilean, prompting a further denial; parallels the theme of identification by accent and the sequence of denials.
- John 18:26 (thematic): A servant questions Peter about being with Jesus in the garden, leading to denial; parallels the motif of bystanders challenging Peter and his repeated denials.
- Acts 2:7 (allusion): Listeners at Pentecost remark that the speakers are Galileans (identifying people by regional speech), echoing the motif in Matthew where Galilean speech/ accent exposes Peter.
Alternative generated candidates
- After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, 'Certainly you are one of them; for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it.'
- After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, 'Certainly you too are one of them, for your speech gives you away.'
Matt.26.74 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τοτε: ADV
- ηρξατο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- καταθεματιζειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- και: CONJ
- ομνυειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- οτι: CONJ
- Ουκ: PART
- οιδα: VERB,perf,act,ind,1,sg
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- ανθρωπον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- ευθεως: ADV
- αλεκτωρ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εφωνησεν·: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Mark 14:72 (verbal): Parallel account of Peter's third denial; includes the same cursing/denial and the immediate crowing of the rooster (Mark adds that it crowed a second time).
- Luke 22:60-61 (structural): Luke records the third denial and the rooster's crow, adding that Jesus turned and looked at Peter—emphasizing the moment of recognition and Peter's remorse.
- John 18:27 (verbal): John's account of Peter's third denial also ends with the rooster crowing immediately, linking the denial to the preceding prediction and highlighting Peter's repeated refusals.
- Matt 26:34 (quotation): Earlier in Matthew Jesus predicts Peter will deny him three times before the rooster crows; Matt 26:74 records the prediction's fulfillment.
- John 21:15-17 (thematic): Post-resurrection restoration of Peter—Jesus questions him three times about his love—serves as the theological counterpart to the threefold denial recorded in Matt 26:74.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then he began to curse and to swear, 'I do not know the man!' And immediately the rooster crowed.
- Then he began to curse and to swear, 'I do not know the man.' And immediately a rooster crowed.
Matt.26.75 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- εμνησθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Πετρος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- ρηματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- Ιησου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ειρηκοτος: PART,perf,act,gen,sg,m
- οτι: CONJ
- Πριν: CONJ
- αλεκτορα: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- φωνησαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- τρις: ADV
- απαρνηση: VERB,aor,mid,subj,3,sg
- με: PRON,acc,sg,1
- και: CONJ
- εξελθων: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,m,sg
- εξω: ADV
- εκλαυσεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- πικρως: ADV
Parallels
- Matt.26.34 (quotation): Jesus' earlier prediction that Peter will deny him three times before the rooster crows; Matt 26:75 reports the fulfillment of that saying.
- Mark 14:72 (verbal): Mark's parallel narrative: after the third denial the rooster crows and Peter breaks down and weeps; close verbal and chronological agreement with Matthew's report.
- Luke 22:61-62 (structural): Luke records Jesus' look at Peter after the denials and explicitly notes that Peter wept bitterly, a structural parallel emphasizing Peter's remorse.
- John 18:17-27 (verbal): John provides an independent account of Peter's three denials in the courtyard; parallels Matthew's sequence and the fact of Peter's apostasies though John omits the rooster detail.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken: 'Before the rooster crows you will deny me three times.' And he went out and wept bitterly.
- And Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: 'Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.' And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those standing there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
Again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.”
After a little while those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you too are one of them; for your speech betrays you.”
Then he began to curse and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.