Matthew 26:73Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

An extraordinary and surprising occurrence! When Peter witnessed the Master being seized, he became so agitated that he drew a sword and severed an ear; yet, in a moment when he ought to have shown greater outrage at the insults, he instead denied knowing Him! Who among us would not have been incensed by such an event? Nevertheless, the disciple, gripped by fear, not only fails to express any anger but also renounces his association with Christ, intimidated even by a weak, powerless servant girl. This denial happened not once, but a second and a third time, shortly after, and not before the high authorities, as he found himself in the courtyard when the girl questioned him at the gate. He did not immediately recognize his own betrayal.

This does not imply that Peter was from a different ethnicity or communicated in another language. In truth, both those who accused him and Peter himself were Jews. This highlights that each region and nation possessed its own distinct characteristics, making it impossible for the speaker to avoid the nuances of the vernacular. Consequently, as documented in the Book of Judges, the Ephrathites or Ephraimites were unable to pronounce the recognized term, which is referenced as “שִׁבֹּולת,” yet they articulated it as “sibbolet.”

Finally, as recorded in Matthew, when confronted about his association with Jesus of Nazareth, Peter replied, I know not the Man (Matt. 26:72). Both accounts we are examining reveal that on the third occasion, he denied with an oath that he was familiar with the Man (Matthew 26:72; Mark 14:71). He refuted the notion that this Man was the One he recognized as God. Commitments made call for serious consideration. Even though Peter denied it, he did not violate his promise, for the Lord did not hold it against him. If the nature of the oath was unclear to Peter, it poses an even greater peril for others.

Mark observed, "You are certainly a Galilean, and your speech reveals it." The Galileans were known for their distinctive clothing and unique dialect. The term 'Rotisya' (καταθεματζειν) signifies a rejection, akin to 'αναθεματιζειν,' the term Mark employed. Both expressions convey the idea of denial.

About an hour following the second trial (Luke 22:59), Peter had settled his fears. However, was he aware of his transgression? Not at all. He still perceived himself as a devoted follower; he remained in a perilous position for his soul, as a blind pride held him in the comforting belief that he could stay close to his cherished Master and learn of His forthcoming fate. Once again, suspicions were directed at Simon. One person remarked, “This man was certainly with Him; he is a Galilean" (Luke 22:59). Others pressed on more forcefully, insisting, “Surely you belong to them; your speech betrays you.” The Galilean accent was recognizable by its roughness and its mispronunciation of letters and words, and they were aware that Jesus' followers hailed from Galilee.

Once again, the eyes of the entire assembly were fixed upon the unfortunate Simon, who found himself encircled on all sides. Shortly thereafter, they approached him, declaring to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for your speech betrays you.” Innocent, the Archbishop of Kherson, notes how bewildered Simon felt in this precarious situation: although the soldiers had seemingly lacked orders to apprehend Jesus' followers during His arrest, now that they had successfully seized the Master, it was likely they would not hesitate to capture the disciple who had inadvertently come under their scrutiny.

It is likely that Peter's earnest declarations had an influence on those who accused him; they chose to leave him in peace. After some time, driven by a desire to understand what was happening to his Lord, he returned to the courtyard and took a seat by the fire. The Gospel of Luke notes that an hour had elapsed (Luke 22:59) following Peter's second denial. According to Matthew and Mark (Mark 14:70), his third denial began shortly thereafter. Being a resident of Galilee, Peter spoke with a distinct Galilean accent, which starkly contrasted with the softer Aramaic dialect commonly spoken by the Judeans.

As the crowd closed in around him, many began to accuse him, saying, "Surely you are one of them; your words give you away." A servant of the high priest, who was a relative of Malchus, confronted him directly, asking, "Did I not see you with Him in the garden?" Overcome with fear, Peter emphatically denied knowing the man, swearing repeatedly. At that moment, the rooster crowed, signaling the arrival of dawn. Peter was taken aback by the commonplace sound.

"You belong to that group": referring to the disciples of Christ or those who accompanied Him. - "Your words testify against you": the Galileans had a different way of pronouncing certain words compared to the Jews, particularly those in Jerusalem, similar to how people from rural areas may differ in speech from those in urban centers (see Judg. 12:6).