Peter’s Denials of Jesus (22:54-62)

54 And having laid hold on him, they led him away, and they led him into the house of the high priest. And Peter followed afar off. 55 And they having lit a fire in the midst of the court and sat down together, Peter sat among them.

56 And a certain maid, having seen him sitting by the light, and having fixed her eyes upon him, said, And this man was with him. 57 But he denied him, saying, Woman, I do not know him. 58 And after a short time another seeing him said, And “thou” art of them. But Peter said, Man, I am not. 59 And after the lapse of about one hour another stoutly maintained it, saying, In truth this man also was with him, for also he is a Galilaean. 60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he was yet speaking, the cock crew. 61 And the Lord, turning round, looked at Peter; and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he said to him, Before the cock crow thou shalt deny me thrice. 62 And Peter, going forth without, wept bitterly. vv.56-62 The rooster’s crow was for Peter’s conscience. The Lord’s look was for Peter’s heart.

Hast thou heard Him, seen Him, known Him?

by Ora Rowan

What can strip the seeming beauty,

From the idols of the earth?

Not a sense of right or duty,

But the sight of peerless worth.

‘Tis that look that melted Peter,

’Tis that face that Stephen saw,

‘Tis that heart that wept with Mary,

Can alone from idols draw.

The Mocking of the Soldiers (22:63-65)

63 And the men who held him mocked him, beating him; 64 and covering him up, asked him saying, Prophesy, who is it that struck thee? 65 And they said many other injurious things to him.

The Trial Before the Sanhedrin (22:66-71)

66 And when it was day, the elderhood of the people, both the chief priests and scribes, were gathered together, and led him into their council, saying, 67 If “thou” art the Christ, tell us. And he said to them, If I tell you, ye will not at all believe; 68 and if I should ask you, ye would not answer me at all, nor let me go; 69 but henceforth shall the Son of man be sitting on the right hand of the power of God. 70 And they all said, “Thou” then art the Son of God? And he said to them, “Ye” say that I am. 71 And they said, What need have we any more of witness, for we have heard ourselves out of his mouth?

The First Trial Before Pilate (23:1-7)

CHAPTER 23

1 And the whole multitude of them, rising up, led him to Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We have found this man perverting our nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ, a king. 3 And Pilate demanded of him saying, Art “thou” the king of the Jews? And he answering him said, Thou sayest. 4 And Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, I find no guilt in this man. 5 But they insisted, saying, He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judaea, beginning from Galilee even on to here. 6 But Pilate, having heard Galilee named, demanded if the man were a Galilaean; 7 and having learned that he was of Herod’s jurisdiction, remitted him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem in those days.

The Trial Before Herod (23:8-12)

8 And when Herod saw Jesus he greatly rejoiced, for he had been a long while desirous of seeing him, because of hearing many things concerning him, and he hoped to see some sign done by him; 9 and he questioned him in many words, but “he” answered him nothing. 10 And the chief priests and the scribes stood and accused him violently. 11 And Herod with his troops having set him at nought and mocked him, having put a splendid robe upon him, sent him back to Pilate. 12 And Pilate and Herod became friends with one another the same day, for they had been at enmity before between themselves. v.12 That day a friendship was formed between those who had been enemies before. As a practical note, bonds that are formed between previously opposed parties due to mutual hatred for another or due to same-sidedness on some issue that comes up in the assembly is not a good friendship. Our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son. Our friendships should revolve around mutual appreciation for Christ, and not a negative object.

The Second Trial Before Pilate (23:13-25)

13 And Pilate, having called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 14 said to them, Ye have brought to me this man as turning away the people to rebellion, and behold, I, having examined him before you, have found nothing criminal in this man as to the things of which ye accuse him; 15 nor Herod either, for I remitted you to him, and behold, nothing worthy of death is done by him. 16 Having chastised him therefore, I will release him. 17 ( Now he was obliged to release one for them at the feast.) 18 But they cried out in a mass saying, Away with this man and release Barabbas to us; 19 who was one who, for a certain tumult which had taken place in the city, and for murder, had been cast into prison. 20 Pilate therefore, desirous to release Jesus, again addressed them. 21 But they cried out in reply saying, Crucify, crucify him. 22 And he said the third time to them, What evil then has this man done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will chastise him therefore and release him. 23 But they were urgent with loud voices, begging that he might be crucified. And their voices and those of the chief priests prevailed. 24 And Pilate adjudged that what they begged should take place. 25 And he released him who, for tumult and murder, had been cast into prison, whom they begged for, and Jesus he delivered up to their will.

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