Luke 22:57
in Luke 22But Peter denied it. “Woman, I do not know Him,” he said.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But he denied, saying, Woman, I know him not.
KJV
And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.
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This verse in Luke 22
Commentary
12 notes on this versePeter denied, because he promised rashly. He does not deny on the mount, nor in the temple, nor in his own house, but in the judgment-hall of the Jews. There he denies where Jesus was bound, where truth is not. And denying Him he says, I know him not. It were presumptuous to say that he knew Him whom the human mind can not grasp. For no one knoweth the Son but the Father. (Matt. 11:17).
This site's exposition
kindled a fire in the midst of the hall
on Luke 22:55-57
When they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them, the ordinary warmth of a shared fire the setting for his first test rather than any formal interrogation. A certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and said, this man was also with him, a servant girl's casual remark rather than an official accusation, and he denied him, saying, woman, I know him not, the very man who swore readiness for prison and death now denying acquaintance to a household servant. The bench reads the mismatch between the threat, a girl's passing comment, and the response, flat denial, as the measure of how completely fear had already overtaken the courage promised at verse 33.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
(ut sup.) What ails thee, Peter, thy voice is suddenly changed? That mouth full of faith and love, is turned to hatred and unbelief. Not yet awhile is the scourge applied, not yet the instruments of torture. Thy interrogator is no one of authority, who might cause alarm to the confessor. The mere voice of a woman asks the question, and she perhaps not about to divulge thy confession, nor yet a woman, but a door-keeper, a mean slave.
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.
What meaneth it, that a maid is the first to betray Peter, whereas surely men ought the more easily to have recognised him, save that that sex should be plainly implicated in our Lord's murder, in order that it might also be redeemed by His Passion? But Peter when discovered denies, for better that Peter should have denied, than our Lord's word should have failed. Hence it follows, And he denied, saying, Woman, I know him not.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Second, as regards the fragility of Peter in denying, he adds: When a certain maidservant had seen him sitting by the light and had gazed upon him, she said: This man also was with him. But he denied him, saying: Woman, I do not know …
But he denied him, saying, "Woman, I do not know him." Some, out of affection for the apostle Peter, interpret this passage as if he had rightly said that he did not know him whom the human mind cannot comprehend, for no one knows the …
5 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
In this denial then of Peter we affirm that not only is Christ denied by him who says that He is not Christ, but by him also, who, being a Christian, says he is not.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
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.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
proposed
The verses we have now read, describe the fall of the apostle Peter. It is a passage which is deeply humbling to the pride of man, but singularly instructive to true Christians. The fall of Peter has been a beacon to the Church, and has probably preserved myriads of souls from destruction. It is a passage which supplies strong proof that the Bible is inspired, and that Christianity is from God.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
proposed
The verses we have now read, describe the fall of the apostle Peter. It is a passage which is deeply humbling to the pride of man, but singularly instructive to true Christians. The fall of Peter has been a beacon to the Church, and has probably preserved myriads of souls from destruction. It is a passage which supplies strong proof that the Bible is inspired, and that Christianity is from God. If the Christian religion had been the invention of uninspired men — then its first historians would never have told us that one of the chief apostles denied his Master three times. The story of Peter's fall teaches us, firstly — how small and gradual are the steps by which men may go down into great sins. The various steps in Peter's fall, are clearly marked out by the Gospel-writers. They ought always to be observed in reading this part of the apostle's history. The first step was proud self-confidence . Though all denied Christ — yet he never would! He was ready to go with Him both to prison and to death! The second step was indolent neglect of prayer . When his Master told him to pray, lest he should enter into temptation — he gave way to drowsiness, and was found asleep. The third step was vacillating indecision . When the enemies of Christ came upon Him, Peter first fought, then ran away, then turned again, and finally "followed afar off." The fourth step was mingling with bad company . He went into the high priest's house and sat among the servants by the fire, trying to conceal his religion, and hearing and seeing all kinds of evil. The fifth and last step was the natural consequence of the preceding four. He was overwhelmed with fear when suddenly charged with being a disciple. The snare was round his neck. He could not escape. He plunged deeper into error than ever. He denied his blessed Master three times.
And he denied him - See the notes on Mat 26:58, Mat 26:69, etc.
The words behind it
8 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δὲ | de | But | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ἠρνήσατο | ernesato | he denied | G720 → | 33 times |
| λέγων· | legon | saying; | G3004 → | 1325 times |
| οὐκ | ouk | Not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| οἶδα | oida | I do know | ||
| αὐτόν, | auton | Him, | G846 → | 5565 times |
| γύναι.¶ | gunai | woman. | G1135 → | 211 times |
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
δὲBut
deG1161 →2765 times
ἠρνήσατοhe denied
ernesatoG720 →33 times
λέγων·saying;
legonG3004 →1325 times
οὐκNot
oukG3756 →1664 times
οἶδαI do know
oida
αὐτόν,Him,
autonG846 →5565 times
γύναι.¶woman.
gunaiG1135 →211 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Luke 12:9But whoever denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.
it leads to
- 2 Timothy 2:12
if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us;
- Mark 8:38
If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in His Father’s glory with the…
- Luke 9:26
If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and in the glory of the Father and of the…
- Matthew 7:23
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’
- Matthew 10:33
But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father in heaven.
- 2 Timothy 2:12
Through
John 18:27Peter denied it once more, and immediately a rooster crowed.
it leads to
- John 13:38
“Will you lay down your life for Me?” Jesus replied. “Truly, truly, I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.
- John 13:38
Through
John 18:25Simon Peter was still standing and warming himself. So they asked him, “Aren’t you also one of His disciples?” He denied it and said, “I am not.”
it leads to
- John 18:17–18
At this, the servant girl watching the door said to Peter, “Aren’t you also one of this man’s disciples?” “I am not,” he answered.
- Mark 14:67–72
and saw him warming himself there. She looked at Peter and said, “You also were with Jesus the Nazarene.”
- John 18:17–18
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies12
About Luke
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Ambrose of Milan, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Augustine of Hippo, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Bede, On the Gospel of Luke; Bede, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Bonaventure, Commentary on Luke, Chapter 22; Cyril of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 149; J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, Luke; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament and John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748).