Luke 22:60 - Jesus' Denial Before the High Priest Explained
Luke 22:60 records Jesus' response to Peter's denial before the high priest's servants: "And immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter" [2]. This verse is part of the narrative surrounding Jesus' arrest and trial, where Peter's denial is a pivotal moment.
The literary context of Luke 22:60 is Jesus' arrest and subsequent trial before the high priest Caiaphas. The surrounding narrative in Luke 22 describes Jesus' last supper with his disciples, his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, and his being led to the high priest's house. Peter follows Jesus at a distance and warms himself by a fire in the high priest's courtyard, where he is recognized and accused of being one of Jesus' disciples [6].
The historical setting of this event is Jerusalem during the Passover festival, likely around 30 AD. The high priest's house is believed to be that of Caiaphas, who was the high priest that year [1]. The event is recorded in all four canonical Gospels, with variations in detail.
The key terms in Luke 22:60 include the rooster crowing and Jesus' look at Peter. The rooster crowing is a fulfillment of Jesus' earlier prediction that Peter would deny him before the rooster crowed (Luke 22:34). The Greek word for "rooster crowed" is ἀλέκτωρ ἐφώνησεν (alektor ephōnēsen), which is used in all four Gospels to describe this event [2, 4, 5].
A major exegetical decision in interpreting Luke 22:60 is understanding the significance of Jesus' look at Peter. According to Augustine, Jesus' look was a turning point for Peter, as it reminded him of Jesus' prediction and led to his repentance [3]. The look is described as a turning (ἐπιστρέψας, epistrepsas) and a looking (ἐνέβλεψεν, eneblepsen) at Peter, emphasizing the intensity of Jesus' gaze.
The range of interpretations for Luke 22:60 includes various understandings of Jesus' look at Peter. Some commentators, like Adam Clarke, emphasize the emotional impact of Jesus' look on Peter, suggesting it was a look of compassion and sorrow [2, 4]. Others, like John Gill, focus on the fulfillment of Jesus' prediction and the significance of Peter's denial [8].
In tradition, Luke 22:60 has been used to illustrate the humanity of Jesus and the frailty of his disciples. The passage has been interpreted in various ways throughout church history, with some emphasizing the severity of Peter's denial and others highlighting Jesus' mercy and forgiveness [3, 7]. The event has also been seen as a demonstration of Jesus' prophetic knowledge and his ability to foresee the actions of his disciples.
The significance of Jesus' look at Peter has been reflected in various patristic writings. Augustine notes that Jesus' look was not just a physical action but a spiritual one, conveying a deep sense of sorrow and compassion [3]. This understanding is echoed in other patristic sources, which emphasize the importance of Jesus' look in Peter's repentance.
The event of Peter's denial and Jesus' look has been a subject of reflection in Christian theology, highlighting the complexities of human faith and the nature of Jesus' relationship with his disciples. As recorded in Luke 22:60, Jesus' response to Peter's denial serves as a poignant reminder of the human frailty of even the most devoted followers and the depth of Jesus' compassion and understanding.
Sources
- Mark “Mark 14:60 (NASB) — The high priest stood up and came forward and questioned Jesus, saying, "Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?"”
- Luke (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Luke 22 (introduction): The chief priests and scribes plot our Lord's destruction, Luk 22:1, Luk 22:2. Judas, at the instigation of the devil, betrays him, Luk 22:3-6. He eats his last supper with his disciples, Luk 22:7-18. Institutes the eucharist, Luk 22:19, Luk 22:20. Announces one of his disciples as the traitor, Luk 22:21-23 : The contention which should be greatest, Luk 22:24-30. Warns Peter against Satan's devices, Luk 22:31, Luk 22:32. Peter's resolution, Luk 22:33. His denial foretold, Luk 22:34. Tells his disciples to make prudent provision for their own support, Luk ”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 6: Augustine — Homilies on the Gospels — CHAP. VI.--OF THE HARMONY CHARACTERIZING THE ACCOUNTS WHICH THESE EVANGELISTS GIVE OF WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE LORD WAS LED AWAY TO THE HOUSE OF THE HIGH PRIEST, AS ALSO OF THE OCCURRENCES WHICH TOOK PL (part 3): injuries, the several evangelists do not present the same order in the recital of the circumstances. For Matthew and Mark first narrate the injuries offered to the Lord, and then this temptation of Peter. Luke, again, first describes Peter's temptation, and only after that the reproaches borne by the Lord; while John, on the other hand,”
- John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on John 18:27: And - the cock crew - Peter denied our Lord three times: - Peter's First Denial. I. This took place, when he was without, or beneath, in the hall of Caiaphas's house. He was not in the higher part where Christ stood before the high priest; but without that division of the hall, and in the lower part with the servants and officers, at the fire kindled in the midst of the hall, Joh 18:16, Joh 18:18; and the girl who kept the door had entered into the hall, where she charged Peter. Peter's Second Denial. II. This was in a short time after the first, Luk 22:58. Having o”
- John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on John 18:17: Then saith the damsel that kept the door--"one of the maids of the high priest," says Mark (Mar 14:66). "When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him and said" (Mar 14:67). Luke is more graphic (Luk 22:56) --She "beheld him as he sat by the fire (literally, 'the light'), and earnestly looked on him (fixed her gaze upon him), and said." "His demeanor and timidity, which must have vividly showed themselves, as it so generally happens, leading to the recognition of him" [OLSHAUSEN]. Art thou not also one of this man's disciples?--that is, thou”
- Luke (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Luke 22:54: We have here the melancholy story of Peter's denying his Master, at the time when he was arraigned before the high priest, and those that were of the cabal, that were ready to receive the prey, and to prepare the evidence for his arraignment, as soon as it was day, before the great sanhedrim, Luk 22:66. But notice is not taken here, as was in the other evangelists, of Christ's being now upon his examination before the high priest, only of his being brought into the high priest's house, Luk 22:54. But the manner of expression is observable. They took him, and led hi”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 7: Augustine — Homilies on John — CHAPTER XVIII. 28-32. (part 1): 1. LET us now consider, so far as indicated by the evangelist John, what was done with, or in regard to, our Lord Jesus Christ, when brought before Pontius Pilate the governor. For he returns to the place of his narrative where he had left it, to explain the denial of Peter. He had already, you know, said, "And Annas sent Him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest:" and having returned from where he had dismissed Peter as he was warming himself at the fire in the hall, after completing the whole of his denial, which was t”
- Luke (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Luke 22:56: And he denied him, saying, woman, I know him not. Startled at the maid's positive assertion, and knowing not how to clear himself any other way, roundly, and at once, denied that Jesus was his master; or that he was a disciple of his; or that he knew any thing of him, or had any acquaintance with him: and thus he that had said he would die with him, rather than deny him, is frighten at a servant maid, and denies him upon the first attack upon him. And he denied him, saying, woman, I know him not. Startled at the maid's positive assertion, and knowing not how to clear ”