The Verdict against Jesus. 583 but not so). The high priest rent his tunic3d and his veste (his ordinary clothes, not his robe of office, for that was in the Temple), and said, "He has blasphemed, what further need have we of witnesses? Lo, now you have heard His blasphemy, how does it appear to you? What is your opinion?" And they all condemned Him to be guilty of death, and they replied', "He is guilty of death." (That is, they did not now pass sentence of death, but committed themselves to the condemnation of Jesus as soon as the Sanhedrim could be legally held in the Temple.) Then some2 (of the assembly) began to spit upon Him, and into His face; others, to covers His face, to strike Him with their hands, and to say", "Prophesy!" and the officers (of police) struck Him with their wands (on His bare head; for before the Sanhedrim prisoners stood unbound and bareheaded), and said to Him, "O Christ', prophesy to us who is he that struck you !" 3 6 8 (This closes the examination before the high priest Caiaphas. But since a legal sitting of the Sanhedrim in the Temple could alone pass sentence of condemnation, Jesus must be kept in ward during the rest of the night, it being now about three o'clock in the morning. The guards therefore bring Jesus down to the fire in the midst of the hall, where they warmed themselves.) Chapter cxlii. The Denial of Jesus by Simon Peter. (IN the following narrative each denial has its own time and place, but it may contain more than one asseveration drawn from Peter by more than one person among the bystanders. Whilst Jesus and John were with the council in the upper hall, or council chamber,) Peter' (who had already denied once on entering the porch) was sitting in the hall without (the council chamber); and whilst he was in the hall below (during the trial), a certain3 damsel, having perceived him sitting at the light (of the fire), and having gazed at him, said (to those sitting by), "This man was also with Him." But he denied, saying, "Woman, I do not know Him." After a short intervale a second' 1 Matt. xxvi. 69. 2 Mark xiv. 66. a pws. person (a man) perceived him, bčέw. App. 229. 3 Luke xxii. 56. · ἕτερος. The Denials of Peter. 8g 585 and said, "You also are of them.' Peter said, "Man, I am not." One of the damsels of the high priest comes, and having seen Peter warming himself, went up to him, and having power to see into his face, said, "You' also were with Jesus of Nazareth of Galilee," (speaking apparently from her own personal knowledge of Peter.) But he denied before' all, saying', “I do not know, much less do I understand what3 you say." (This second denial is in the hall; and its various asseverations are recorded in St. Matthew, St. Mark, and St. Luke. In about an hour the trial was over, and Jesus was brought down to the hall. This appears to have caused a general movement, and St. Matthew, St. Mark, or their informants, together with St. John, left the hall.) Peter also went out (after the previous denial) into the antecourt (or porch), and was standing and warming himself. But after he had gone out into the porch at about the interval of an hour, another damsel (the porteress) perceived him, and said to them who were k 6 Mark xiv. 68. Mark xiv. 68. I wσei. App. 21, sec. 3. Matt. xxvi. 70. κ πυλῶνα. 1 Mark xiv. 67. 5 of the cock: see John xviii. 25. 3 there, "This man also was with Jesus of Nazareth." They also (in consequence of this remark) say to him, "Are not you also of His disciples ?" He denied, and said, "I am not.' One of the servants of the high priest, his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, says, "Did not I perceive you in the garden with Him ?" Again1 he denied with an oath, "I do not know the Man," and presently a cock crew, (heard by St. Mark and St. John. This third denial was in the porch, and the asseverations are in St. Mark and St. John. Thus the first part of the prophecy was fulfilled which requires that Peter should deny thrice before a cock crow.) The damsel perceiving him again began to say to the men who stood near, "This man is one of them." Peter denied again. (This first denial of the second series is in the porch, and is recorded by St. Mark only.) After a short time again' those that stood near came up, and said' to Peter, "Truly, you also are one of them; for you are a Galilæan, and your talk resembles His, and makes3 you manifest." Then Peter began John xviii. 25. 2 Matt. xxvi. 72. 4 Mark xiv. 68. Matt. xxvi. 73, 7 Mark xiv. 70, Matt. xxvi. 73. 2 Mark xiv. 70. m 1 Matt. xxvi. 72. John xviii. 27. John xviii. 27. Matt. xxvi. 73. Matt. xxvi. 74. Mark xiv. 71. The Cock crew Twice. 587 to make strong affirmations, and to swear, "I do not know this Man of whom you speak." (This second denial of the second series is in the porch, and is recorded by St. Matthew and St. Mark. Peter instantly returned back to the hall whither also Jesus had been brought to the fire in the midst of the hall, and was the sport of His guards. Immediately after the last denial) another man (of the same party) confidently affirmed, "Of a truth this man also was with Him, for he is a Galilæan." Peter replied, "Man, I do not know what you say." And simultaneously, whilst he was still talking, the cock crew the second time, (heard by St. Matthew, St. Mark, and St. Luke,) and the Lord" (who was at the fire) when He had turned Himself had power to see into the face of Peter; and Peter remembered' the word of the Lord Jesus, how He said to him, "Before a cock crow twice', you shall deny Me thrice." And when he had gone1 out (of the hall back again into the porch), he lamented bitterly; and when he had covered' 5 Mark xiv. 71. 4 Matt. xxvi. 75. 5 4 ἐπιβαλὼν ἱμάτιον τῇ κεφαλῇ αὐτοῦ : see Jer. xiv. 3, 4; 2 Sam. XV. 30; Esther vi. 12. |