And Peter remembered the word of Jesus which he had said: Before the cock crow, thou wilt deny me thrice. And going forth, he wept bitterly.
και εμνησθη ο πετρος του ρηματος του ιησου ειρηκοτος αυτω οτι πριν αλεκτορα φωνησαι τρις απαρνηση με και εξελθων εξω εκλαυσεν πικρως
15 Church Fathers comment on this verse · 29 commentaries
And he, who, when he saw his Master laid hands on, drew his sword and cut off the ear, now when he sees Him enduring such insults becomes a denier, and cannot withstand the taunts of a mean servant girl. A damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.
But not once, but twice and thrice did he deny within a short time.
To shew that the sound did not keep him from denial, nor bring his promise to mind.
The rooster represents the message of Christ, urging us to remain vigilant and alert rather than succumb to slumber. It calls us to awaken and rise from our lethargy. Mirroring this call, the revitalized Peter, after leaving the archbishop's courtyard—a symbol of spiritual blindness—cried out, emerging from his state of insensibility. During his time in this place of darkness, he was silent, unable to perceive his surroundings. However, once he stepped out, he regained awareness and feeling.
Among the other insults offered to our Lord was the threefold denial of Peter, which the several Evangelists relate in different order. Luke puts Peter’s trial first, and the ill usage of the Lord after that; Matthew and Mark reverse the order.
The second denial was not outside the door, but after he had returned to the fire; for the second maid did not see him after he had gone out, but as he was going out; his getting up to go out drew her attention, and she said to them that were there, that is, to those that were standing round the fire in the hall, Tins fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth. He who had gone out, haying heard this returned, that he might by denial vindicate himself. Or, as is more likely, he did not hear what was said of him as he went out, but it was after he came back that the maid, and the other man whom Luke mentions, said to him, And thou also art one of them.
Let us now come to the third denial; And after a while came they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them, (Luke’s words are, About the space of one hour after,) for thy speech bewrayeth thee. (Luke 22:59.)
Also Peter thrice denied, because heretical error concerning Christ is limited to three kinds; they are in error respecting His divinity, His humanity, or both.
We understand that having gone out after his first denial, the cock crowed the first time as Mark relates.
Peter sat without, that he might see the event, and not excite suspicion by any approach to Jesus.
And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. I know that some out of a feeling of piety towards the Apostle Peter have interpreted this place to signify that Peter denied the Man and not the God, as though he meant, ‘I do not know the Man, because I know the God.’x But the intelligent reader will see that this is trifling, for if he denied not, the Lord spoke falsely when He said, Thou shalt deny me thrice.
Not that Peter was of a different speech or nation, but a Hebrew as his accusers were; but every province and every district has its peculiarities, and he could not disguise his native pronunciation.
In another Gospel we read, that after Peter’s denial and the cock-crow, the Saviour looked upon Peter, (Luke 22:61.) and by His look called forth those bitter tears; for it might not be that he on whom the Light of the world had looked should continue in the darkness of denial, wherefore, he went out, and wept bitterly. For he could not do penitence sitting in Caiaphas’ hall, but went forth from the assembly of the wicked, that he might wash away in bitter tears the pollution of his timid denial.
I had rather that Peter deny, than that the Lord be made out false.
He departed, fearing that they might also apprehend him as one who was sorrowful, and he wept, not in a trivial manner, but with deep anguish. Mark noted that he began to weep, while John did not include this detail as recounted by others. You have witnessed transgression; now behold contrition. The accounts of both the sins and repentance of the saints are preserved for our sake, so that we, having erred, may emulate their contrition. Peter's fall was allowed not only for the reasons previously mentioned, but also so that he might learn to extend forgiveness to those who sin, understanding their frailty from his own experience.
Since he was destined to become a shepherd, it was important that when he performed great miracles, he remained humble and, recalling his failure, attributed all glory to God. Similarly, the Apostle Paul, through God’s allowance, encountered temptations to prevent him from becoming proud, as he mentioned. This was primarily to provide a noble example of repentance for those who have sinned. If the foremost of the disciples, who both witnessed and performed remarkable miracles, fell due to his denial, but upon recognizing his transgression and repenting, was not only forgiven swiftly but also became a shepherd to the other disciples and performed numerous great works, then no sinner should lose hope, but rather repent immediately, considering the boundless grace of the Lord. Additionally, it is important to note that, according to Matthew and Mark, there was first an inquiry by the high priest, followed by the Jews reprimanding Jesus Christ, after which Peter denied Him. Conversely, as per Luke, Peter's denials occurred first, followed by the reprimand, and then, when day broke, an inquiry took place. Each writer not only conveyed what transpired but also noted the sequence of events, while Luke, focused solely on the events themselves, did not emphasize their order.
Or, By the first handmaid is understood the Synagogue of the Jews, which oft compelled the faithful to deny; by the second, the congregations of the Gentiles, who even persecuted the Christians; they that stood in the hall signify the ministers of divers heresies, who also compel men to deny the truth of Christ.
For this reason it should seem he was permitted to waver, that the remedy of penitence might be exhibited in the head of the Church, and that none should dare to trust in his own strength, when even the blessed Peter could not escape the danger of frailty.
Blessed tears, O holy Apostle, which had the virtue of holy Baptism in washing off the sin of thy denial. The right hand of the Lord Jesus Christ was with thee to hold thee up before thou wast quite thrown down, and in the midst of thy perilous fall, thou receivedst strength to stand. The Rock quickly returned to its stability, recovering so great fortitude, that he who in Christ’s passion had quailed, should endure his own subsequent suffering with fearlessness and constancy.
What means this, that a handmaid is the first to tax him, when men would be more likely to recognise him, except that this sex might seem to sin somewhat in the Lord’s death, that they might be redeemed by His passion? He denied before them all, because he was afraid to reveal himself; that he said, I know not, shews that he was not yet willing to die for the Saviour.
In this denial of Peter we affirm that Christ is denied not only by him who denies that He is Christ, but who denies himself to be a Christian.
Observe, that he said the first time, I know not what thou sayest; the second time, He denied with an oath; the third time, He began to curse and to swear that he knew not the man. For to persevere in sinning increases sinfulness, and he who disregards light sins, falls into greater.
After the third denial comes the cock-crow; by which we may understand a Doctor of the Church who with chiding rouses the slumbering, saying, Awake, ye righteous, and sin not. (1 Cor. 15:14.) Thus Holy Scripture uses to denote the merit of divers cases1 by fixed periods, as Peter sinned at midnight and repented at cock-crow.
Observe how baneful are communications with evil men; they even drove Peter to deny the Lord whom he had before confessed to be the Son of God.
Spiritually; By Peter’s denial before the cock-crow, are denoted those who before Christ’s resurrection did not believe Him to be God, being perplexed by His death. In his denial after the first cock-crow, are denoted those who are in error concerning both Christ’s natures, His human and divine. By the first handmaid is signified desire; by the second, carnal delight; by them that stood by, the dæmons; for by them men are led to a denial of Christ.
On the sorrowful emotions that overtook the Apostle Peter after his denial of Christ. The following text by Saint Gennadius is not a sermon but rather a meditation and expression of the deep anguish that gripped the Apostle Peter after he denied Christ three times on the night the Saviour surrendered to death for humanity’s salvation. Despite his remorse and regret, the Apostle Peter holds onto hope for the Lord’s forgiveness. This work, identified by the publishers as “uvres complétes,” serves as a “prosopopoeia,” or personification, brought to life in a notable monologue attributed to the Apostle Peter. This literary technique, derived from Greek classical theater and poetry, is frequently employed by St. John Chrysostom, Venerable Romanos the Sweetbearer, St. Sophronius of Jerusalem, St. Gregory Palamas, and other liturgical poets, including the current work by St. Gennadius. The text includes a letter from the Athonite monk Lawrence addressed to Patriarch Gennadius and his subsequent reply. It would be superfluous to summarize these letters, as the reader can easily access these brief documents. The themes expressed in St. Gennadius's reflection echo the kondak composed by Venerable Romanos the Sweetbearer regarding the Apostle Peter’s denial.
Letter from Monk Lawrence to Patriarch Gennadius.
To the Most Holy and Divine Patriarch, I beseech you, O God-inspired father, that your esteemed sanctuary may thrive, remain in health of body and mind, and be filled with joy. Though I am distant, I carry your precious shrine in my heart, treating every thought of you as a celebration; no day passes without the sweetness of your remembrance being a holiday for me. I implore you to pray for me, a wretched soul in need of mercy. In reading the holy Gospel, I noted that after Peter denied Christ, he "went out and wept bitterly." I pondered what words he may have uttered in lamentation, wishing to find in them the means to mourn for my own soul, as I too repeat this denial through my sinful actions. Therefore, I appeal to you, esteemed father, imploring your wisdom to write to me about Peter's tearful expressions, his sorrowful thoughts, and the inspiration for his profound remorse, so that I may be moved to sorrow for my own transgressions and win your prayers and gratitude.
Response from Patriarch Gennadius to Monk Lawrence.
Most Honorable Gennadius Scholarius to my revered brother and father in Christ, Lawrence of the Dionysius Monastery on Holy Athos, rejoice in the Lord. Beloved brother, upon receiving your letter requesting an outline of the lamentations of blessed Peter, chief of the Apostles, I hesitated to honor your wish. One reason for my reticence is that to depict his sorrow authentically, one must be relatively close to Peter's state of soul; however, our distance from his experience makes such expressions difficult, and we often fail to grieve over our sins, leading careless lives and lacking the benefit of tears. Nonetheless, moved by another consideration, I now commit to fulfilling your request, although we initially considered evading this subject. Hence, I present this writing alongside your request, hypothesizing what words the blessed Apostle Peter might have internally spoken in anguish following his third denial. Yet, I ask that in return you offer us passionate and unwavering prayers of love to our Lord Jesus Christ, that He may grant us true repentance, brokenness, and sorrow, and absolve us from our many sins through His immense mercy.
Prosopopoeia.
What, perhaps, did Blessed Peter say to himself in his lamentation following his denial? 1. O wretched me! What a dreadful fall! Woe to me for this sudden and terrible betrayal! How justly the Lord has forsaken me! Just a short time ago, while fishing, I sought temporal gains with some regard for God, the giver of all good; now I have stripped myself of my eternal garment and lost true life, effectively ruining my own redemption. The Lord taught me daily the importance of relying on this temporal existence for the salvation of my soul, yet I squandered that opportunity. What has become of me? I have denied my Master, the Saviour of the world, who willingly dies to revive all, including me; yet in fear of death, I forsook the One who cares for me. My Master named me Peter and proclaimed He would build His Church upon me, but alas, like chaff, I was swept away by the stormy wind. Woe to me for waiting until the rooster became a witness to my misfortunes, sealing my downfall. Now, belatedly, I recall the Lord's prophetic words; regrettably, I learned this lesson through painful experience. I ought to have guarded my mouth and refrained from boasting, insisting I would remain steadfast in the face of trials, but that very boast has led me to ruin. I should have prayed, asking for my brethren’s steadfastness in faith as they faced trials. Instead, I trusted solely in my own abilities, forgetting the strength derived from faith in God—a weak and changeable human soul becomes vulnerable to fallacies. I should have sought the source of my conviction, yet I did not, despite the Master's warning that I would deny Him three times, with a rooster’s crow marking my folly. I should have humbled myself upon hearing such foretelling but instead remained focused on others’ trials, neglecting my own weaknesses. Had I truly considered the warning, I would not have denied Him.
2. Perhaps this should not be termed a renunciation, but a mere avoidance of danger? No, it is indeed renunciation; for when questioned, I declared to the Master, "You are the Christ, the Son of God," yet to His persecutors I uttered, "I do not know this man." I not only denied my acquaintance with Him but diminished Him to a mere man. Despite my inner beliefs, my tongue has betrayed me; His recognition demands accountability for both acknowledgement and denial. How can I deny that this is a betrayal when He has foreseen and declared it so? If my denial were not true, it would imply that He was mistaken when He foretold it. Therefore, through my actions, I inadvertently validated His words. His prophecy was not intended as a directive for my actions, yet I fulfilled it out of frenzy and madness, with the rooster’s crow reminding me of my downfall.
3. Alas, what a calamity! How many tears will suffice? How many breast-beatings or head-bowings will remedy this? Even so, I cannot enact such expressions now, being surrounded by enemies, my love for the Lord preventing me from retreating into solitude. I yearn to witness the unfolding of Redemption's mystery; afterward, I may lament for my misfortune. My denial arose not from disbelief but from a love for worldly life. Nevertheless, if I hold strong in faith, I shall soon rejoice; He will rise again as promised, bringing us joy in place of sorrow. However, I fear I may miss out on shared joy with my faithful brethren, who wait expectantly for the culmination of these glorious events. They wait in silence, acknowledging their fragility, while I, who am still numbered among His followers, have distanced myself from Him with my words. O unfortunate Simon—no longer worthy of the name ‘Peter’—for cowardice has shattered your resolve. Would that you remained firm, for when you once followed the Master, you left everything behind. Alas, that in a moment of fear, you have lost the strength once bestowed upon you. How can you claim to love Christ when you recoil from sacrifice? Our Lord defines the greatest love as laying down one's life for a friend. Should the adversaries of Truth rejoice in my denial, Truth itself shall not recognize me as a friend who has forfeited love. You were not compelled to endure such sorrow; you did not view it as your duty to love Him well enough to suffer for Him. Instead of glorifying Him, you diminished His honor and had it within your power to amplify it if only you had desired to.
4. Yet, why do you continue to lament, analyzing the situation so wisely? Why do the tears flow while contemplating your thoughts? You will perish continually if you remain overwhelmed by evil; such agony will eternally torment you with no healing to mend your wound. Whatever occurs, put grief aside for now and seek a remedy for your transgressions through the boundless mercy of the Lord, not just lamenting your losses but seeking a way out of these troubles. Let this inquiry guide your healing; consult the brethren in hope, confessing your failings, while awaiting the fulfillment of the promises. If I have lost my title, I must not abandon my faith in Christ but instead isolate myself in the depths of the earth. Yes, I must invoke the common Saviour for guidance, seeking His counsel on my next steps and allowing my tears to rest momentarily.
5. O Christ the King! O Fount of mercy! O Crucified One, who willingly assumed the body but remains ever-present as God, hear me—having denied you thrice, I now recognize the justice of my penalty. Works are judged by their outcomes; even the sinful harlot received forgiveness for her deep remorse when Your divine love bore fruit. Yet, those who turn away after devotion are considered to have never truly cherished You. Thus, I confess I have abandoned Your glory and fled from the love dwelling within me. Accept me among the repentant, for You call not the righteous, but sinners to repentance. However, my fall is monumental, overshadowing any hope, encompassing not only Your mercy but also the demand for justice. Many, having merely heard Your teachings, have believed and would gladly die for You. I have been inseparable from You since Your call, participating not just in common doctrines, but in those uniquely revealed to Your chosen disciples. Who can number the blessings with which You have graced us? Yet I chose to deny You—how can I hope for repentance? Woe is me! My heart longs, and my tears flow abundantly. I fear my overwhelming shame may render me speechless.
6. What I have done deserves ceaseless tears, O Lord, O Christ! Even if I might receive forgiveness through Your unyielding humanity, the remembrance of my denial shall torment my soul. Above all, I implore Your mercy: extend my life, so that amid this dreadful fall, I might not perish. If answered, I shall hold hope; for I recall how You once deemed me blessed, proclaiming that the truth came from the Father in heaven. If the Father’s work results in the grace I experienced, why am I now shrouded in cowardice? I remember Your promise, to build the Church upon me; shall all this be forfeited due to my recent denial? How, then, can these proclamations regarding me find fulfillment? I who have substituted the foundation of such blessings for an abominable denial of You? My heart is heavy as I reflect upon my transgressions in the light of Your benefits. Now that my tears have softened, I press forward. If I am beyond reach of such mercies because of my folly, prevent me from eternal condemnation among those who deny You. Grant me the grace of genuine repentance; I wish to be a part of Your flock and liberated from everlasting torment, for if I am numbered among the guardians of Your kingdom, I shall eternally exult in Your mercy.
The remorseful Peter recalled the Lord's warning, ‘Before the cock crows twice, you will deny Me three times.’ Overcome with sorrow, he stepped outside and wept bitterly. Peter quickly distanced himself from the scene of his sorrowful failure and from the eyes of others, shedding tears of deep grief. There are tears of joy, which are sweet, and tears that arise from shame or illness, lingering and painful. Yet, those tears that flow from a troubled conscience are the most intense, the most tormenting, and the most profound. My friends, even the most righteous can falter!
Peter, who had absorbed the Lord’s teachings for so long, Peter, who practiced a sincere devotion before the Lord, Peter, who had not been tainted by life’s pursuits, who sought to do good, and whose piety was genuine rather than superficial—he fell. Not even an enlightened mind, shaped by divine wisdom, or vast experience in the spiritual realm could prevent Peter from this tragic collapse. Consider that he was a man uniquely favored by the One who sees beyond outward appearances into the heart, a man of exceptional worth. Yet this individual, who had endured numerous hardships for the sake of Jesus, who recognized Him as the Son of God and loved Him fervently, who was willing to die for Him and had received solemn warnings just a few hours before, fell three times in one night and renounced his Lord. Reflect on what this reveals about the limitations of good people acting solely by their own strength and understanding. How tragically misguided is the earthly philosophy that questions or rebukes the boundless love of our heavenly Father for humanity! Peter did not find true repentance until he was met by the life-giving gaze of divine mercy. It is human nature to stumble. The most a frail person can achieve is to sense the presence of grace and turn back in repentance. In contrast, the gravest peril lies in arrogance, self-satisfaction, and oblivious pride. Only a humble recognition of one’s propensity to falter, coupled with genuine sorrow for one’s shortcomings, distinguishes us from that fallen spirit who succumbed to pride. The state of that spirit, trapped in fear and hopelessness, is dire, for it refuses to acknowledge its fall or admit its wrongs. Therefore, let us weep, let us mourn profoundly for our sins: we have many, far more than Simon. ‘Be grieved, mourn, and wail,’ urges the Apostle James, ‘let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to heaviness; humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you’ (James 4:9-10). The risen Savior instructed His disciples to inform Peter about Him—in other words, He ensured that the weeping Peter recognized His enduring love, forgiving his past, embracing his repentance with compassion, and honoring him still as Peter, not as Simon. Likewise, He will receive your tears. Long ago, the prophet declared: the transgression of the wicked shall not lead to their demise; on that very day, he turns from his wickedness (Ezekiel 33:12). Glory and praise be to Your boundless goodness, O Lord! Our salvation rests in humility alone. Amen.
St. Clement, a follower of the Apostle Peter, relates that throughout his life, Peter knelt with remorse as the rooster crowed at midnight, weeping profusely over his denial and seeking forgiveness, even though the Lord had already granted him absolution shortly after His resurrection. Tradition holds that St. Peter's eyes were always red from his frequent, sorrowful tears. St. Chrysostom remarks on the extraordinary nature of Peter's actions: in a moment of heated passion while the Master was being apprehended, Peter drew a sword and severed the ear of one of the captors.
Yet, when the moment came for him to express his outrage, he instead denied Christ three times, not once but repeatedly, and all of this transpired in a brief span away from the courts, without an immediate recognition of his fall. Upon the rooster's crow, he failed to remember his actions until reminded by his Master, leaving him struck with fear. When Christ recalled Peter to his sin, Peter hesitated to weep openly, worried that his tears might lead to further condemnation, but eventually “going out, he wept bitterly.” St. Demetrius of Rostov reflects on Peter's denial, stating that it was not merely the blows and injuries inflicted by evildoers that pained the Lord, but rather Peter's declaration: “I do not know this Man.”
O Holy Peter! Have you truly forgotten your Benefactor, the source of your comfort, the One whose radiant countenance you beheld on Tabor? This is the same One who healed your mother-in-law and to whom you confessed, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man” (Luke 5:8). This is the God-man from whom you requested to walk on water and who rescued you as you sank beneath the waves. When the Lord gazed upon you, you boldly proclaimed, “I will not be shaken forever” (Psalm 29:7), but once He looked away, you denied Him. The sage son of Sirach speaks the truth: “A friend is a friend in his time of need… a friend shares a meal but may abandon you in times of trouble” (Sirach 6:7-10). While Peter was at the Lord's table, he demonstrated his affection, yet when the moment of suffering arrived for Christ the Savior, he renounced Him: “and he shall not remain with you in the day of your affliction.” However, the Lord turned to Peter, causing him to recall the Lord's words… “And going out, he wept bitterly.”
Let us weep bitterly alongside Peter, O sinful man, who daily denies the Lord with your transgressions when you live not in accordance with human dignity but like cattle; weep earnestly, comparing the ailments of your contrite heart with the sufferings of your Lord: “Is there any affliction like my affliction?” (Lamentations 1:12). St. Philaret, Metropolitan of Moscow, notes that this unintentional but profound fall of Peter, which he mourned deeply, was permitted by God's Providence, not only to test him but also to instruct all Christians. Peter stumbled so that we might learn to tread carefully upon the path of salvation. “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12). If we believe we would willingly lay down our lives for Christ when necessary, we must not, like Peter, fall into self-deception from such confidence. We must vigilantly guard ourselves, especially when, for the unyielding confession of Christ, we are called to sacrifice anything less vital than life itself.
Peter recalled the words spoken by Jesus: before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times (Mark 14:72); he then went outside and wept profoundly. St. Clement, a disciple of Peter, recounts that throughout the rest of Peter's life, each time the rooster crowed at night, he would kneel down in sorrow, repenting for his denial and seeking forgiveness, despite having already received it from Jesus Christ Himself shortly after the Resurrection. Peter was filled with tears of regret, yet it must have been particularly painful for Jesus to witness one of His closest disciples, among the remaining eleven, deny even knowing Him, too frightened to utter His name. The depth of mental anguish was overwhelming.
He left and wept profoundly, signifying deep regret for the grave transgression of disowning his Lord. When the Lord reminded him of his wrongdoing (Luke 22:10), he refrained from weeping in public for fear of being judged for his tears, instead choosing to step away and weep intensely.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 20 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS