Matthew 26:69

¶ Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.

Now {G1161} Peter {G4074} sat {G2521} without {G1854} in {G1722} the palace {G833}: and {G2532} a {G3391} damsel {G3814} came {G4334} unto him {G846}, saying {G3004}, Thou {G4771} also {G2532} wast {G2258} with {G3326} Jesus {G2424} of Galilee {G1057}.

Kefa was sitting outside in the courtyard when a servant girl came up to him. "You too were with Yeshua from the Galil," she said.

Meanwhile, Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came up to him. “You also were with Jesus the Galilean,” she said.

Now Peter was sitting without in the court: and a maid came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus the Galilæan.

Commentary

Matthew 26:69 marks the beginning of a poignant and pivotal moment in the Passion narrative: Peter’s three denials of Jesus, just as Christ had foretold. This verse sets the scene for Peter's first public denial, a stark contrast to his earlier bold declarations of loyalty.

Historical and Cultural Context

This event unfolds in the courtyard of the high priest's residence, likely that of Caiaphas, where Jesus was undergoing an illegal trial before the Sanhedrin. Peter, having followed Jesus "afar off" (Matthew 26:58), was sitting among the servants and guards who were gathered around a fire. The accusation comes from a "damsel" (Greek: paidiske), a young female servant or slave, indicating that Peter's test began not from a formidable authority figure, but from a seemingly insignificant person. The identification of Jesus as "Jesus of Galilee" might have carried a slight dismissive or even suspicious connotation, as Galilee was often viewed with disdain by Judeans, and its inhabitants were known for a distinct accent.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Human Frailty and Fear: Despite Peter's earlier fervent vow that he would never deny Jesus, even if it meant death (Matthew 26:33), fear of association and potential persecution leads him to falter. This highlights the universal human struggle with fear and the reality of weakness even in devoted followers.
  • Prophecy Fulfilled: This verse begins the fulfillment of Jesus' direct prophecy to Peter: "Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice" (Matthew 26:34). This demonstrates Jesus' omniscience and the certainty of divine prophecy.
  • The Cost of Discipleship: Being identified with Jesus carried significant social and physical risks, especially during his arrest and trial. Peter's denial underscores the immense pressure faced by those who followed Christ.

Linguistic Insights

The term "damsel" comes from the Greek word paidiske (παιδίσκη), which refers to a young girl, often a female servant or slave. The low status of the accuser makes Peter's denial particularly striking, as it wasn't a powerful official or a mob, but a simple servant girl who prompted his initial fear-driven response.

Practical Application

Peter's denial serves as a powerful reminder for believers today:

  • Self-Reliance vs. God's Strength: It cautions against overconfidence in one's own strength or loyalty, emphasizing the need for humility and constant reliance on God's sustaining grace.
  • The Subtle Nature of Temptation: Sometimes the greatest tests of faith come from unexpected and seemingly minor sources, not always from grand, overt challenges.
  • God's Grace and Restoration: While this verse captures Peter's failure, it is crucial to remember that this was not the end of his story. His subsequent repentance and Jesus' compassionate restoration of him (as seen in John 21:15-19) offer hope and assurance that God's grace is greater than our failures.

This moment in Matthew 26:69 powerfully illustrates the vulnerability of even the most devoted disciples when confronted with fear, while simultaneously setting the stage for the fulfillment of prophecy and a later, profound lesson in grace and forgiveness.

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Cross-References

  • 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.

  • 1 Kings 19:13

    And it was [so], when Elijah heard [it], that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, [there came] a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

  • Acts 5:37

    After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, [even] as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.

  • Mark 14:66

    ¶ And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest:

  • Mark 14:72

    And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.

  • Matthew 26:58

    But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.

  • Psalms 1:1

    ¶ Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
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