Matthew 26:57–75
57 Those n who had arrested Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas o the high priest, where the * scribes and the elders had convened. 58 Meanwhile, Peter was following Him at a distance right to the high priest’s courtyard. p He went in and was sitting with the temple police q to see the outcome. r s
59 The chief priests and the whole * Sanhedrin were looking for false testimony against Jesus so they could put Him to death. t 60 But they could not find any, even though many false witnesses u came forward. v Finally, two w who came forward 61 stated, “This man said, ‘I can demolish God’s sanctuary x and rebuild it in three days.’ ”
62 The high priest then stood up and said to Him, “Don’t You have an answer to what these men are testifying against You?” 63 But y Jesus kept silent. z Then the high priest said to Him, “By the living God I place You under oath: a tell us if You are the * Messiah, the Son of God!” b
64 “You have said it,” c Jesus told him. “But I tell you, in the future d you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” e f
65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed! g Why do we still need witnesses? Look, now you’ve heard the blasphemy! h 66 What is your decision?” i
They answered, “He deserves death!” j 67 Then they spit in His face k and beat Him; others slapped Him 68 and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah! Who hit You?” l
69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. m A servant approached him and she said, “You were with Jesus the Galilean too.”
70 But he denied it in front of everyone: “I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
71 When he had gone out to the gateway, another woman saw him and told those who were there, “This man was with Jesus the * Nazarene!” n
72 And again he denied it with an oath, o “I don’t know the man!”
73 After a little while those standing there approached and said to Peter, “You certainly are one of them, since even your accent p gives you away.”
74 Then he started to curse q and to swear with an oath, “I do not know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed, 75 and Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” r And he went outside and wept bitterly.