Mark 14:66-72

Peter's Denial of Christ Matthew 26:69-75; Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:55-62; John 18:25-27; Matthew 26:69 Now Peter sat without in the palace: John 18:16 But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter. Luke 22:55 And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. John 18:25 (a) And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. and a damsel came unto him, saying, Mark 14:66 And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest: Luke 22:56 But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, John 18:17 Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also [one] of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not. Mark 14:67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and earnestly looked upon him, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth. and said, This man was also with him. John 18:25 (b) They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also [one] of his disciples? Matthew 26:70 But he denied before [them] all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. Mark 14:68 But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew. Luke 22:57 And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. He denied [it], and said, I am not. Matthew 26:71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another [maid] saw him, and said unto them that were there, This [fellow] was also with Jesus of Nazareth. Mark 14:69 And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is [one] of them. Luke 22:58 And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. John 18:18 And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself. Matthew 26:72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. Mark 14:70 And he denied it again. And Peter said, Man, I am not. Matthew 26:73 And after a while came unto [him] they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art [one] of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art [one] of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth [thereto]. Luke 22:59 And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this [fellow] also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. John 18:26 One of the servants of the high priest, being [his] kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him? Matthew 26:74 Then began he to curse and to swear, [saying], I know not the man. Mark 14:71 But he began to curse and to swear, [saying], I know not this man of whom ye speak. Luke 22:60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately the cock crew. Mark 14:72 And the second time the cock crew. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. John 18:27 Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew. Luke 22:61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. Matthew 26:75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly. And when he thought thereon, he wept. Luke 22:62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly. If a cock crows a second time, then it has crowed once before. The problem is that in Mark, after Peter denies the Lord for the third time (Mark 14:71), immediately a cock crows a second time (v. Mark 14:72).  The other gospels tell us that after Peter's third denial a cock then crows. How do we reconcile this difficulty?        Mark does not mention when the cock crowed the first time. Therefore, it is possible that after Peter's third denial, the cock then crowed twice; that is, two times in a row. ()