Matthew 26:31-35, 57-58, 69-75

Jesus told his followers, “Tonight you will all stumble in your faith on account of me, because it is written in the Scriptures: ‘I will kill the shepherd, and the sheep will scatter.’ But after I rise from the dead, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” Peter said, “Everyone else may stumble in their faith because of you, but I will not.” Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, tonight before the rooster crows you will say three times that you don’t know me.” But Peter said, “I will never say that I don’t know you! I will even die with you!” And all the other followers said the same thing.

Those people who arrested Jesus led him to the house of Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders were gathered. Peter followed far behind to the courtyard of the high priest’s house, and he sat down with the guards to see what would happen to Jesus.

At that time, as Peter was sitting in the courtyard, a servant girl came to him and said, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.” But Peter said to all the people there that he was never with Jesus. He said, “I don’t know what you are talking about.” When he left the courtyard and was at the gate, another girl saw him. She said to the people there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” Again, Peter said he was never with him, saying, “I swear I don’t know this man Jesus!” A short time later, some people standing there went to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of those who followed Jesus. The way you talk shows it.” Then Peter began to place a curse on himself and swear, “I don’t know the man.” At once, a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered what Jesus had told him: “Before the rooster crows, you will say three times that you don’t know me.” Then Peter went outside and cried painfully.