And Peter remembered the words of Jesus, who said unto him,
Before the cock crows, you shall deny me three times.
And he went out, and wept bitterly.
All Commentaries on Matthew 26:75 Go To Matthew 26
Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
Quaest. Ev., i, 44: That, “they did spit in his face,” signifies those who reject His proffered grace. They likewise buffet Him who prefer their own honour to Him; and they smite Him on the face, who, blinded with unbelief, affirm that He is not yet come, disowning and rejecting His person.
de Cons. Ev., iii, 6: Among the other insults offered to our Lord was the threefold denial of Peter, which the several Evangelists relate in different order. Luke puts Peter’s trial first, and the ill-usage of the Lord after that; Matthew and Mark reverse the order.
We understand that having gone out after his first denial, the cock crowed the first time as Mark relates.
Let us now come to the third denial; “And after a while came they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them,” (Luke’s words are, "About the space of one hour after, ) for thy speech bewrayeththee.”.
Quaest. Ev., i, 45: Also Peter thrice denied, because heretical error concerning Christ is limited to three kinds; they are in error respecting His divinity, His humanity, or both.
