Mark 14:53-72

53 The men took Jesus to the chief priest. All the chief priests, leaders, and scribes had gathered together.

54 Peter followed him at a distance and went into the chief priest's courtyard. He sat with the guards and warmed himself facing the glow of a fire.

55 The chief priests and the whole Jewish council were searching for some testimony against Jesus in order to execute him. But they couldn't find any.

56 Many gave false testimony against him, but their statements did not agree.

57 Then some men stood up and gave false testimony against him. They said,

58 "We heard him say, 'I'll tear down this temple made by humans, and in three days I'll build another temple, one not made by human hands.'"

59 But their testimony did not agree even on this point.

60 So the chief priest stood up in the center and asked Jesus, "Don't you have any answer to what these men testify against you?"

61 But he was silent. The chief priest asked him again, "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?"

62 Jesus answered, "Yes, I am, and you will see the Son of Man in the highest position in heaven. He will be coming with the clouds of heaven."

63 The chief priest tore his clothes in horror and said, "Why do we need any more witnesses?

64 You've heard him dishonor God! What's your verdict?" All of them condemned him with the death sentence.

65 Some of them began to spit on him. They covered his face and hit him with their fists. They said to him, "Prophesy!" Even the guards took him and slapped him.

66 Peter was in the courtyard. One of the chief priest's female servants

67 saw Peter warming himself. She looked at him and said, "You, too, were with Jesus from Nazareth!"

68 But Peter denied it by saying, "I don't know him, and I don't understand what you're talking about." He went to the entrance. Then a rooster crowed.

69 The servant saw him. Once again she said to those who were standing around, "This man is one of them!"

70 Peter again denied it. After a little while the men standing there said to Peter again, "It's obvious you're one of them. You're a Galilean!"

71 Then Peter began to curse and swear with an oath, "I don't know this man you're talking about!"

72 Just then a rooster crowed a second time. Peter remembered that Jesus said to him, "Before a rooster crows twice, you will say three times that you don't know me." Then Peter began to cry very hard.