And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Peter tried to escape the crowd and the questioning by moving to the entrance area, but this attempt to hide only placed him in a new spotlight. Another young woman immediately recognized him, not just as a follower, but specifically as one associated with Jesus of Nazareth, highlighting how closely tied Peter's identity was to his Master.
And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Peter, having been recognized and questioned by a servant girl inside the high priest's courtyard, retreats to the entrance area, perhaps hoping to escape further scrutiny. There, another servant girl spots him and loudly points him out to others present, confirming his association with Jesus of Nazareth. This second accusation prompts Peter to deny Jesus again, this time with an oath.
Peter thought he could escape notice, but he was wrong. His connection to Jesus was a persistent shadow, impossible to outrun.
Even after leaving the immediate scene of questioning, Peter couldn't fully shake the accusation. This second encounter with a maid shows how deeply his association with Jesus had been noted by those around.
It wasn't just one person's word. Each accusation chipped away at Peter's resolve, pushing him further into denial.
This wasn't a single, isolated incident. Peter faced multiple people who recognized him, and each time, the pressure mounted.
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Peter's denial, a moment of profound weakness and fear, occurs just hours before Jesus' crucifixion. It starkly contrasts with his later bold proclamation of Jesus before the Sanhedrin, highlighting the transformative power of the Holy Spirit and God's redemptive grace.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Jesus' Ministry and Arrest
Jesus of Nazareth conducts a public ministry, attracting a large following. During Passover week, he is arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane after a final meal with his disciples.
c. AD 30-33
Peter's Denial
Following Jesus' arrest, Peter, one of his closest disciples, is questioned by various individuals outside the high priest's courtyard. He denies knowing Jesus three times.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Trial and Crucifixion
Jesus is tried by the Jewish Sanhedrin and then by the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, who ultimately sentences him to crucifixion. Jesus is crucified and dies.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Resurrection
Three days after his crucifixion, Jesus is resurrected from the dead, appearing to his followers over a period of forty days.
c. AD 30-33
Pentecost and the Early Church
Ten days after Jesus' ascension, the Holy Spirit empowers the disciples at Pentecost. Peter, transformed from his earlier denial, boldly preaches the Gospel, leading to the rapid growth of the early church.
This passage provides a parallel account of Peter's denial, offering a slightly different perspective on the interactions and the setting.
Luke 22:54-62Similar to Matthew's account, Luke records Peter's denial and the subsequent crowing of the rooster, highlighting the gravity of his actions and the Lord's awareness.
Mark 14:66-72Mark's Gospel also narrates Peter's denial, emphasizing the multiple accusations and Peter's escalating denials, reinforcing the theme of human weakness.
1 Corinthians 10:12This verse serves as a profound caution against overconfidence, directly echoing the lesson learned from Peter's fall in Matthew 26:71.
Acts 4:13This passage demonstrates Peter's courageous confession of Jesus before the same religious authorities later, showcasing the transformative power of repentance after his denial.
bensonMatthew 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."
Matthew 26:71-72 . When he was gone out into the porch — Or portico, as Dr. Doddridge renders it, who observes, “I apprehend that the word προαυλιον , (used by Mark here.) most exactly answers to the Latin word vestibulum, by which many interpreters render it. And, considering the magnificence of the Jewish buildings at this time, it is…
henryMatthew 26:69-75: "Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee."
26:69-75 Peter's sin is truly related, for the Scriptures deal faithfully. Bad company leads to sin: those who needlessly thrust themselves into it, may expect to be tempted and insnared, as Peter. They scarcely can come out of such company without guilt or grief, or both. It is a great fault to be shy of Christ; and to dissemble our knowledge of him, when we are ca…
Peter tried to escape the crowd and the questioning by moving to the entrance area, but this attempt to hide only placed him in a new spotlight. Another young woman immediately recognized him, not just as a follower, but specifically as one associated with Jesus of Nazareth, highlighting how closely tied Peter's identity was to his Master.
Peter, having been recognized and questioned by a servant girl inside the high priest's courtyard, retreats to the entrance area, perhaps hoping to escape further scrutiny. There, another servant girl spots him and loudly points him out to others present, confirming his association with Jesus of Nazareth. This second accusation prompts Peter to deny Jesus again, this time with an oath.
Peter, having been recognized and questioned by a servant girl inside the high priest's courtyard, retreats to the entrance area, perhaps hoping to escape further scrutiny. There, another servant girl spots him and loudly points him out to others present, confirming his association with Jesus of Nazareth. This second accusation prompts Peter to deny Jesus again, this time with an oath.
"And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.”" — Peter tried to escape the crowd and the questioning by moving to the entrance area, but this attempt to hide only placed him in a new spotlight. Another young woman immediately recognized him, not ju…
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Last reviewed October 2026