But a certain maidservant beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.
All Commentaries on Luke 22:56 Go To Luke 22
Cyril of Alexandria
AD 444
We do not say that the denial took place in order that Christ’s words might come true. We say rather that his object was to forewarn the disciple, inasmuch as what was about to happen did not escape Christ’s knowledge. The misfortune, therefore, happened to the disciple from the cowardice of human nature. Since Christ had not risen from the dead, he had not yet abolished death and wiped corruption away. The fear of undergoing death was something beyond human endurance. Commentary on Luke, Homily
