The Denials of Peter.
This Is Appendix 160 From The Companion Bible.
There are several facts that have to be noticed
before we can arrive at a clear understanding of all the denials recorded
of Peter by the four evangelists :-
We have to note that the fact that Peter would deny His Lord was
foretold in three distinct prophecies uttered on three
separate occasions, and differing both as to the occasion and as to
particulars.
The first was in the upper chamber, recorded in
John 13:38. It was
absolute as to the fact, general as to the
day, but particular as to the number of
denials : "a cock shall by no means crow [from this time forth]
until thou has denied Me thrice" (see Appendix
156).
The second was in the upper chamber, recorded by
Luke 22:34. It was after
the "strife", and immediately before leaving the room.
It was absolute as to the fact, but particular as to the
day and the number of denials : "a
cock shall not crow this day, before thou wilt thrice deny knowest
Me" (see Appendix
156).
The third was after the Lord had left the city
and immediately before entering the garden of Gethsemane. It is
recorded in Mark 14:30, and was
particular in every detail : "Verily I say unto
thee that (hoti) thou (added by all the texts) this day,
in this night, before a cock crow twice, thrice thou wilt deny
Me". Compare the fulfilment, and see Appendix 156.
This last prophecy furnishes the key to the
whole problem. For, note :-
- (a) that a cock was to crow
twice, and
- (b) that Peter would deny
thrice ;
that is to say, before each of the two
cockcrowings Peter would thrice deny His Lord. This is confirmed by
the repetition in the fulfilment (Mark 14:72).
Thus, there would be six denials in
all; three before each cockcrowing".
Note that the word "cock" has no
Article in any of the four records : in each case it is not
"the", but "a cockcrowing".
- Consonant with these data, we have the remarkable fact that
Matthew, Luke, and John each record three denials, and one concluding
cockcrowing. Mark also records three denials, but mentions the
two cockcrowings.
Consequently, in the four
Gospels there are no less than twelve denials mentioned. And the
questions are, which of these are duplicates, and which are the
resulting six required by the Lord's third prophecy in
Mark 14:30 ?
- If we note accurately the marks of time in each
Gospel, the place, and the persons
addressing Peter, every condition required by each of the Greek words
employed is fully and perfectly satisfied, without a shadow or
suggestion of "discrepancy".
The First Series of Three.
The First Denial, John 18:17.
Place : the door (thura) without.
Time : entering. The questioner : the
porteress (Greek thuroros).
The Second Denial, Matthew 26:70 (Mark
14:68).
Place : the hall (aule).
Time : sitting. Questioner : a certain
maid. Luke 22:56 - 58 combines the
same place and time, with the same maid, and another
(heteros, masculine).
The Third Denial, Matthew 26:71.
Place : the gateway, or porch (pulon).
Time : an interval of an hour. John 18:25, 26 combines the
same place and time, with another maid and bystanders, one of them
being a relative of Malchus.
A COCK CREW. (Mark 14:68. John
18:27.)
The Second Series of Three.
The First Denial, Mark 14:69.
Place : "beneath in the hall".
Time : shortly after. Questioner : the
maid again.
The Second Denial, Matthew 26:73 (Mark
14:70).
Place : the gate (pulon).
Time : shortly after. Questioner : the
bystanders.
The Third Denial (Luke 22:59, 60).
Place : the midst of the hall (aule,
verse 55).
Time : "an hour after" (verse
59).
Questioner : a certain one (masculine).
A COCK CREW. (Matthew 26:74. Mark
14:72. Luke
22:61.)
We thus have a combined record in which there remains no
difficulty, while each word retains its own true grammatical sense.
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