Jews), acted as porteress of his house. She knew John to be one of Christ's disciples, and, seeing his friendship for Peter, she naturally concluded that the latter also belonged to the band. "Came unto him."-Left her post at the door, and went up to Peter, at the fire, where he was, in the midst of the officers, &c., her motive being probably merely woman's curiosity. Mark and Luke tell us that she earnestly scrutinized his features, before speaking,-no doubt to make sure that he was the same who had entered with John. "Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee." Mark has, "And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth,” (Christ was born in Bethlehem ; but spent the greater portion of His life in Nazareth. Nazareth being in Galilee, "Jesus of Nazareth" and "Jesus of Galilee are of the same import, and, both alike, were terms of contemptuous scorn.) Luke has, "This man was also with him," (i.e., with Christ.) John has, "Art not thou also one of this man's disciples"? 66 Before them all,"-i.e., the porteress, and those standing round the fire. 66 I know not what thou sayest." Mark has, "I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest." This is a merely evasive reply. 66 Luke has, "I know him not.” وو John "I am not," (i.e., not one of His disciples.) Reconciliation of accounts: It is probable that the porteress and Peter spoke thrice on this occasion : 1. To Peter,- "Thou wast with Jesus," &c.,-Peter replying," I know not, neither understand, what thou sayest." 2. To the bystanders," This man was also with him,”Peter replying," I know him not." 3. To Peter again,- "Art not thou also one of this man's disciples"? i.e.,-"Do you positively mean to assert that you have no knowledge whatever of this man, -that you are not a disciple of his "?-Peter replying, "I am not." Mark adds to his account of this First Denial that Peter went out into the porch; and the cock crew, (this being the first, or false cock-crow, which occurs about 2 A.M.) Peter's Second Denial. (IN THE "PORCH" OF THE HIGH PRIEST'S HOUSE.) "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. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.” This Second Denial took place in the porch, (the entrance, or small apartment, between the outer door and the hall.) John does not record this Denial. "When he was gone out into the porch."-Peter doubtless intended to leave the house, and so escape all further questioning. Luke has "After a little while." The time, then, of this Denial was soon after the First -viz., probably about 2 A.M. "Another maid,"-who had, probably, like the porteress, seen John bring Peter in with him. It may be, however, that both these damsels had become tolerably wellacquainted with the faces of Christ and the Apostles, through seeing them frequently at Jerusalem. Mark has "A maid saw him again,"—meaning the same as another maid." Luke has "another,"-i.e., another man, as Peter's answer shews. "Said unto them that were there.” Mark is identical. Luke makes his man speak to Peter. "This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth." Mark has "This is one of them,"-a milder form; but no contradiction of Matthew's version of the maid's speech. Luke's man says to Peter, "Thou art also of them.' “With an oath,”—a 3rd. downward step for Peter,—he first equivocated, then lied, and now he swears to his lie. “And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man." Mark has merely " And he denied it again." Luke has," And Peter said, Man! I am not.” Peter goes into the porch, with a view of escaping. "Another maid," however, sees him, and, by some means, recognizes him. Accordingly, she informs the bystanders, "This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth,” (as one of His disciples.) Peter, growing desperate, denies her accusation, with an oath, declaring, “I do not know the man.” Another, (a man), having, as his words seem to imply, heard Peter's former Denial, as well as the present, says to Peter, “Thou art also of them,”—i.e., “It's no use denying the fact: the evidence is too strong: you must be one of the disciples." Peter, in high wrath, declares, “ Man! I am not.” Peter's Third Denial. (IN THE COURT OF THE HIGH PRIEST'S HOUSE.) "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. “Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. "And immediately the cock crew. "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." All the Evangelists narrate this incident. The place of this 3rd. Denial is indicated by John, who represents him as again warming himself at the fire. We can readily understand, how, recognized alike in hall and porch, he should determine not to run away, but to remain and brave it out. Accordingly, returning to the fire, he seems to have thrown off all restraint, and, " mingling with the group of soldiers and servants, conversed with them freely in his rough, uncouth, Galilæan dialect,”—thus giving further presumption of having been with Christ, for most of the apostles were Galilæans. The time of this Denial is vaguely stated by Matthew as being "after a while," and by Mark as a little after." Luke, however, fixes it definitely as happening "about the space of one hour after" (the 2nd. Denial),―i.e., about 3 A.M. 66 They that stood by." Mark says the same. Luke "Another, (ie., another man), confidently affirmed." John says, 1. "They," (i.e., "the servants and officers.") 2. "One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off." 66 Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech, (rather "dialect"), bewrayeth thee." The Galilæan dialect was broad and guttural. Mark has almost the same, ending, however, "For thou art a Galilean, and thy speech agreeth thereto." Luke has, "Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilean." John makes those round the fire ask Peter, "Art not thou also one of his disciples"? and when Peter has replied, makes the kinsman of Malchus ask,-" Did not I see thee in the garden with him "? "Then began he to curse, (i.e., to call down curses on himself if he were speaking falsely), and to swear, saying, 1 know not the man." Mark is identical. Luke has, "Man! I know not what thou sayest." John has, (in relation to the question of those round the fire), "He denied it, and said, I am not." And, (with regard to the question of Malchus's kinsman), “ Peter then denied again." Reconciliation of accounts: An hour after the Second Denial, and while Peter was at the fire, (probably talking), one of the men, (as Luke records), struck with his Galilæan dialect, says to the rest, "Of a truth this fellow also was with him,"-and Peter replies, "Man"! &c. Thereupon, (as John relates), those amongst whom he is standing ask together, "Art not thou"? &c.—and Peter answers, "I am not." His reply not satisfying them, they say again, (as Matt. and Mark have it), "Surely, thou also art one of them," &c.,-and Peter denies, with oaths and curses, all knowledge of Christ. Finally, Malchus's friend asks, "Did not I," &c., and Peter again denies. "The cock crew,”—Luke and John have the same. Mark says, "The second time the cock crew.' "" This accords with his version of Christ's prediction of the Denials. Luke alone records that, when the cock crew, "The Lord turned, and looked upon Peter,"―i.e., doubtless, looked with sad and tender reproachfulness. Christ would be, at that moment, under examination by the Sanhedrin, in the open apartment before spoken of. Where He stood, He could, doubtless, hear what was going on round the fire in the courtyard. Peter's vehement denials and oaths at least would reach His ears, and, when the cock crew, He had but to turn His head to look at him. Or, perhaps, as some think, our Lord might have been, at the time of this last Denial, crossing the courtyard, from the room where Caiaphas had been privately examining Him, to the apartment where the Sanhedrin was assembled. In this case, He would pass very near, perhaps close to, Peter, and could easily turn His head, and look him full in the face. "And Peter . . . thrice.”—Luke has the same; so has Mark, excepting that he says, "Before the cock crow twice." John's narrative ends at the "the cock crew;" he does not record Peter's remorse. "He went out and wept bitterly,"—so Luke; Mark has, "And when he thought thereon he wept." Peter had thrice bound himself to remain faithful to Christ, even unto death: we have him now thrice denying his Master; after the Resurrection, (as John tells us), Christ thrice, in succession, demanded of Peter whether he loved Him.-Peter thrice responded in the affirmative, (and so blotted out his three denials by three confessions), |