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Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, “Why do we need other witnesses?
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You have all heard his blasphemy. What is your verdict?” “Guilty!” they all cried. “He deserves to die!”
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Then some of them began to spit at him, and they blindfolded him and beat him with their fists. “Prophesy to us,” they jeered. And the guards slapped him as they took him away.
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Meanwhile, Peter was in the courtyard below. One of the servant girls who worked for the high priest came by
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and noticed Peter warming himself at the fire. She looked at him closely and said, “You were one of those with Jesus of Nazareth. ”
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But Peter denied it. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said, and he went out into the entryway. Just then, a rooster crowed.
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When the servant girl saw him standing there, she began telling the others, “This man is definitely one of them!”
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But Peter denied it again. A little later some of the other bystanders confronted Peter and said, “You must be one of them, because you are a Galilean.”
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Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know this man you’re talking about!”
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And immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he broke down and wept.