Luke 22:54-65

Butler's Comments

SECTION 5

Contrition (Luke 22:54-65)

54 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house. Peter followed at a distance; 55and when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. 56Then a maid, seeing him as he sat in the light and gazing at him, said, This man also was with him. 57But he denied it, saying, Woman, I do not know him. 58And a little later some one else saw him and said, You also are one of them. But Peter said, Man, I am not. 59And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, Certainly this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean. 60But Peter said, Man, I do not know what you are saying. And immediately, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. 61And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times. 62And he went out and wept bitterly.

63 Now the men who were holding Jesus mocked him and beat him; 64they also blindfolded him and asked him, Prophesy! Who is it that struck you? 65And they spoke many other words against him, reviling him.

Luke 22:54-65; Luke 22:63-65 Abnegation: They first led Jesus bound to the palace (house) of the High Priest. There, according to John's gospel (John 18:13-18), Jesus was interrogated by Annas. Annas was father-in-law to Caiaphas who was the official high priest at that time. The house of Annas was the most powerful in all Judaism in that era and was detested by the common people. Annas was a Sadducee who had been appointed high priest in A.D. 7, but deposed by the Roman procurator Gratus in A.D. 14. He was able to get five of his sons appointed to the high priesthood, his son-in-law Caiaphas, and one of his grandsons. Annas was the real power behind the office-holder of the high priesthood.

Peter and another disciple (John, see John 18:15-17) followed the mob and actually gained entrance into the courtyard of the palace of the high priest. These apostles were not cringing cowards. In fact, when a maid challenged Peter's identity as he was about to enter the courtyard (John 18:17), Peter's reason for denying his relationship to Jesus may very well have been for the purpose of keeping himself incognito hoping to effect a physical rescue of Jesus should the opportunity avail itself. Both Peter and John were manifestly brave enough to sit right down with the soldiers who had just arrested Jesus!

Between the first challenge by the maid at the gate of the courtyard and the subsequent denials of Peter (Luke 22:56-60), the gospel accounts document the details of Jesus-' trials before Annas and Caiaphas (cf. John 18:13-24; Matthew 26:57-68; Mark 14:53-64). We simply comment here that in both trials, the law of Moses and all the principles of human rights were violated in these kangaroo courts. Jesus was subjected to interrogation by Annas who was not officially authorized to assume such authority. He was interrogated at night and during a feast, which was illegal. Even the oral laws of Judaism (the Mishnah) stated that in capital cases (murder, treason, blasphemy) both trial and verdict must be reached in daytime. In all the interrogation by Annas there were no witnesses and no evidence presented. Even in Jewish law a man was presumed innocent until proven guilty by two or more witnesses and by evidence. When Jesus was taken before Caiaphas there were bribed witnesses testifying falsely against Him. They contradicted one another so blatantly the high priest had to resort to demanding that Jesus, the defendant, testify against Himself. By all the principles of proper jurisprudence, a mistrial should have been declared and Jesus released. Even Pilate, the Roman procurator, would later see through the hypocrisy and shame of the Jewish proceedings, finding no fault in Jesus (John 18:38; John 19:4).

Apparently Luke decided to tell of Peter's anguish and contrition before finishing all the events prior to the moment Jesus looked at Peter. Matthew and Mark indicate that after Caiaphas had elicited a verdict of death from those gathered in his palace, some of the rabble, along with the guards began to spit on Jesus, and, having blindfolded Him, they struck Him, slapped Him and taunted Him, Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who was it that struck you? (Matthew 26:67-68; Mark 14:65). Luke records this inhumane abuse in Luke 22:63-64.

While this beastliness and mockery was going on, Peter was warming himself by the fire in the courtyard (cf. Matthew 26:69; Mark 14:66-67). Luke says a maid saw Peter sitting in the light of the fire, Luke 22:56. She looked at Peter and said for all to hear, This man also was with Him. Matthew and Mark say the maid called Jesus, the Galilean and the Nazarene. Peter denied (Gr. ernesato, disowned) saying he did not know Jesus. A little later, someone else saw Peter and recognized him as one of Jesus-' disciples, but Peter again denied being one of His followers. After about an hour, a third person said, Certainly this man (Peter) also was with him (Jesus); for he (Peter) is a Galilean. Matthew and Mark record that Peter began to invoke a curse on himself (Gr. katanathematizein, anathematize himself), and to promise vehemently (Gr. omnuein) or swear that he did not know this man Jesus of whom they spoke. Luke says Peter replied that he did not know what they were talking about. Peter did not use obscene and vulgar languagehe did lie and did so under self-imposed oath.

Luke 22:61-62 Anguish: Immediately (Gr. parachrema, lit., with the matter or business itself,), in other words, at the same instant Peter made his third denial, the cock crowed. It was apparently the breaking of day (dawn) when this took place. The next notation of time is When morning came, or ... as soon as it was morning (Matthew 27:1; Mark 15:1) when they took Jesus before the Sanhedrin. Roosters crow at the first break of day which is quite some time before the sun rises. Jesus was taken before the Sanhedrin at sunrise on Friday morningnot before because the Sanhedrin could not legally meet to try capital cases before sunrise.

Why did Peter, who so often had stood with the Lord in the face of opposition and difficult circumstances, deny Him? Why do you and I deny Christ? (a) overconfidence in humanness; (b) disagreeing with God's revealed plan; (c) ill-prepared for the suddenness and subtleness of temptation; (d) repulsed at the humbleness of His way. The only power available to keep from denying Christ is a faith and trust in Him which acknowledges that His revealed will is absolutely true and good regardless of what anyone else may say.

Luke alone records that the Lord turned and looked at Peter (Luke 22:61). In one understanding and sad look, Jesus penetrated into the very soul of Peter, and Peter remembered! The look of Jesus revealed to Peter that he had let his Lord down and it broke Peter's heart. This look revealed to Peter his overconfidence and self-will was so wrong and it caused him great shame. Mark uses the Greek word epibalon to describe Peter's reaction. The KJV translates the word, ... and when he thought thereon, he wept. The RSV translates the word ... and he broke down and wept. The RSV is the better translation. The Greek word literally means, ... throwing down, or down-cast. Peter wept bitterly (Gr. pikros, from a root word meaning, to cut, to prick, hence, sharp, pungentthe word is used in the LXX of a certain bitter herb). Out of this experience, Peter found himself out. This soul-searching look of Jesus saved Simon Peter and gave to the world the humble, spiritual giant of an apostle. Two men betrayed ChristJudas Iscariot and Simon Peter. Two were exposed to themselves; one killed himself, the other wept bitterly and repented. What constituted the difference? The fundamental essence so needful to character-change and spiritual growtha love for truth and trust in God instead of self. Peter longed for forgiveness; Judas did not. Would you like Jesus to look into your soul and change you? Then let His Word (read and preached), which is able to pierce to the division of soul and spirit, able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:11-13) search your soul. You may weep bitterly, but if you repent and seek forgiveness, He will give it.

Applebury's Comments

The Arrest of Jesus
Scripture

Luke 22:54-65 And they seized him and led him, away, and brought him into the high priest's house. But Peter followed afar off. 55 And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the court, and had sat down together, Peter sat in the midst of them. 56 And a certain maid seeing him as he sat in the light of the fire, and looking stedfastly upon him, said, This man also was with him. 57 But he denied, saying, Woman, I know him not. 58 And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou also art one of them. But Peter said, Man, I am not. 59 And after the space of about one hour another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean. 60 But Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. 61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how that he said unto him, Before the cock crow this day thou shalt deny me thrice. 62 And he went out, and wept bitterly.

63 And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and beat him. 64 And they blindfolded him, and asked him, saying, Prophesy: who is he that struck thee? 65 And many other things spake they against him, reviling him.

Comments

and brought him into the high priest's house.He was taken before Annas first and then to Caiaphas. (John 18:13-14).

but Peter followed afar off.He had boasted of his loyalty to Christ. He had actually taken his life in his hands when he took the sword to defend Jesus. But Jesus rebuked him for doing so and meekly submitted to arrest. Peter's dream of the restoration of the kingdom with Jesus on the throne was over. But his lingering desire to see what was going to happen led him to follow at a distance and enter into the court where he sat down in the midst of those who were about to crucify his Lord. To the first one who said to him, This man was with Him, he answered, Woman I know Him not. A little later, another said, You are also one of them. But he said, Man, I am not. About an hour later, another one said, You really are one of them, for you are a Galilean. Peter answered, Man, I don-'t know what you are talking about.

and immediately while he yet spake, the cock crew.Just then the Lord turned and looked at Peter. He remembered that the Lord had said, Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times. What was the meaning of the look on the face of Jesus that caused Peter to go out weeping bitterly? Did it say, I told you so? Did it say, You ought to be ashamed? Or did it speak the message of love and forgiveness that made this once bold man repent of the awful thing he had done and determine that henceforth he would set the proper example before his brethren?