Mark 14:54-72

54 Peter followed from a distance and went into the courtyard of the High Priest's house. There he sat down with the guards, keeping himself warm by the fire.

55 The chief priests and the whole Council tried to find some evidence against Jesus in order to put him to death, but they could not find any.

56 Many witnesses told lies against Jesus, but their stories did not agree.

57 Then some men stood up and told this lie against Jesus:

58 "We heard him say, "I will tear down this Temple which men have made, and after three days I will build one that is not made by men.' " ¹

59 Not even they, however, could make their stories agree.

60 The High Priest stood up in front of them all and questioned Jesus, "Have you no answer to the accusation they bring against you?"

61 But Jesus kept quiet and would not say a word. Again the High Priest questioned him, "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed God?"

62 "I am," answered Jesus, "and you will all see the Son of Man seated at the right side of the Almighty and coming with the clouds of heaven!" ²

63 The High Priest tore his robes and said, "We don't need any more witnesses!

64 You heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?" ³ They all voted against him: he was guilty and should be put to death.

65 Some of them began to spit on Jesus, and they blindfolded him and hit him. "Guess who hit you!" they said. And the guards took him and slapped him.

66 Peter was still down in the courtyard when one of the High Priest's servant women came by.

67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked straight at him and said, "You, too, were with Jesus of Nazareth."

68 But he denied it. "I don't know . . . I don't understand what you are talking about," he answered, and went out into the passageway. Just then a rooster crowed.

69 The servant woman saw him there and began to repeat to the bystanders, "He is one of them!"

70 But Peter denied it again. A little while later the bystanders accused Peter again, "You can't deny that you are one of them, because you, too, are from Galilee."

71 Then Peter said, "I swear that I am telling the truth! May God punish me if I am not! I do not know the man you are talking about!"

72 Just then a rooster crowed a second time, and Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, "Before the rooster crows two times, you will say three times that you do not know me." And he broke down and cried.

Cross References

• 1. 14.58John 2.19.
• 2. 14.62Daniel 7.13.
• 3. 14.64Leviticus 24.16.

Footnotes

• [a]. [Some manuscripts do not have] Just then a rooster crowed.