Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 26:71
And when he was gone out into the porch, another [maid] saw him, and said unto them that were there, This [fellow] was also with Jesus of Nazareth.
When he was gone out into the porch – The entrance, or the small apartment between the outer door and the large hall in the center of the building. See plan of a house, Notes, Mat 9:1-8. Peter was embarrassed and confused by the question, and to save his confusion from attracting notice, he went away from the fire into the porch, where he expected to be unobserved – yet in vain. By the very movement to avoid detection, he came into contact with another who knew him and repeated the charge. How clearly does it prove that our Lord was omniscient, that all these things were foreseen!
Another maid saw him – Mark simply says that a maid saw him. From Luke it would appear that a man spoke to him, Luk 22:58. The truth probably is that both were done. When he first went out, a maid charged him with being a follower of Jesus. He was probably there a considerable time. To this charge he might have been silent, thinking, perhaps, that he was concealed, and there was no need of denying Jesus then. Yet it is very likely that the charge would be repeated. A man, also, might have repeated it; and Peter, irritated, provoked, perhaps thinking that he was in danger, then denied his Master the second time. This denial was in a stronger manner and with an oath. While in the porch, Mark says, the cock crew – that is, the first crowing, or not far from midnight.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 71. Unto them that were there] Instead of . , more than one hundred MSS., many of which are of the first authority and antiquity, have . , she saith unto them, this man was THERE also. I rather think this is the genuine reading. might have been easily mistaken for , if the first syllable were but a little faded in a MS. from which others were copied: and then the placing of the point after . instead of after . would naturally follow, as placed after , it would make no sense. Griesbach approves of this reading.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Mark hath the same, Mar 14:70, more shortly. So Luke, Luk 22:58. It is like Peter, upon the first alarm, began to shift away, and was got into the porch, but there another meets him with the same charge. Here, to the former lie which he had told, and here repeateth, he adds an oath for the confirmation of what he had said. What are the best of men, when God leaves them to their own strength! But the temptation yet riseth higher.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And when he was gone out into the porch,…. The Vulgate Latin, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions read, “the gate”: and so does Munster’s Hebrew Gospel; but more rightly it is rendered, “the porch”: he did not attempt to go out at the door, and run away, though he could gladly have done it; but he feared to do this, lest, as this would discover him, they should pursue him, and overtake him, and bring him before the sanhedrim: he chose rather to keep his ground, but was very uneasy; and therefore moved into the porch, where he sat very pensive, considering what was proper for him to do; when
another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, this [fellow] was also with Jesus of Nazareth: she speaks of Christ in the same contemptuous manner, as her fellow servant had done; for this appellation of Christ was commonly, if not always used by way of contempt; and she means the same thing by his being with him, the other did, and is rather more spiteful, and bent on mischief; for, the other addressed him alone, and what she said, said to himself; but this directs her speech to the servants and officers that were near at hand, and uses him in a very scurrilous manner: this sorry fellow, that is sauntering and lurking about here, is certainly one of this man’s disciples.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Into the porch ( ). But Peter was not safe out here, for another maid recognized him and spoke of him as “this fellow” () with a gesture to those out there.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Gone out. Through fear of being further questioned.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
71. Another maid saw him. From the words of Mark we are rather led to conjecture that it was the same maid; at least he doesn’t state that it was a different maid from the former one. But there is no contradiction here; for it is probable that the statement which proceeded from one maid, flew from the lips of one to those of another, so that the first maid pointed him out to many persons and at several times, and others joined her in asserting that he was the person, and in spreading the discovery of him more widely. John even relates (Joh 18:25) that, at the second time, the question was put to Peter, not by a maid, but by a multitude of men; from which it is evident that the word, which had been pronounced by the maid, was caught by the men standing by, who attacked Peter.
There is another difference between Mark and the other three Evangelists; for he mentions that the cock crew twice, while they say that the cock crew not until after Peter had thrice denied our Lord. But this difficulty is easily obviated; for Mark says nothing that is inconsistent with the narrative of the other Evangelists, but explains more fully what they pass by in silence. Indeed, I have no doubt that, when Christ said to Peter, before the cock crow, he meant the cock-crowing, (238) which includes many crowings; for cocks do not merely crow once, but repeat their crowings many times; and yet all the crowings of a single watch are called but one cock-crowing. So then, Matthew, Luke, and John, say that Peter thrice denied our Lord before the cock-crowing was ended. Mark states more distinctly one circumstance, that within a short space of time Peter was brought even to the third denial, and that, though he had been warned by the first crowing, he did not repent. None of us will say that profane historians are inconsistent with each other, when some one of them relates what the others have not touched; and, therefore, though Mark’s narrative is different, still it does not contradict the others.
(238) “ L’heure de la nuict en laquelle les coqs chantent;” — “the hour of the night in which cocks crow.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
PETER’S SECOND DENIAL.
The place, the porch.
71. Gone out into the porch As soon as he was able, Peter withdrew in fear from the scene of the charge. But it was only to encounter at the door a similar hazard. By comparing with Mark and Luke, it appears that two maidens and a man at that place recognized him at once. To them all he denies with an oath, a very convincing proof that he has not been a disciple of Jesus!
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and says to those who were there, “This man also was with Jesus of Nazareth.” ’
Deciding to move away from what had become the danger spot Peter went to the porch area, where again he was spotted by a servant girl. It is interesting, and typical of life, that it was the young women who noticed Peter. They were probably thrilled at the idea of seeing someone connected with the Prisoner, and may well have been whispering among themselves. The men were meanwhile taking little notice. As far as they were concerned the night’s duties were over. They did not really care who Peter was.
Her charge was similar to the previous one, but this time she drew him to the attention of the men, and therein, in his eyes, lay greater danger. Thus he had to deny her words before them all. The ways in which both women describe Jesus are precisely what we would expect, ‘Jesus the Galilaean’, ‘Jesus the Nazarene’. Both were probably common descriptions of Jesus, the former especially in Jerusalem among His detractors, for it indicated the contempt of a Jerusalemite for a Galilaean. But Matthew probably here intends us to remember Mat 2:22-23 where Jesus ‘withdrew into the part of Galilee’ and would fulfil Scripture by being called ‘a Nazarene’. Their very contempt was emphasising Who Jesus really was.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Mat 26:71. When he was gone out into the porch St. Matthew and St. Mark say it was a woman that attacked Peter in the porch; St. Luke says it was a man; and Grotius, to reconcile the evangelists, has shewn that the Greek word signifies both man and woman, as homo does in the Latin. But without having recourse to this criticism, which appears rather too nice, it is natural and easy to suppose, that the apostle was accosted in the porch both by a woman and a man; the former mentioned by St. Matthew and St. Mark, the latter by St. Luke. The word , rendered porch, answers most exactly to the Latin word vestibulum, by which many good interpreters render it: and considering the magnificence of the Jewish buildings at this time, it is reasonable to conclude, that this which belonged to the high-priest’s palace, was some stately piazza or colonnade, and therefore the word would be better rendered portico. The Jews gave our Lord the appellation of Jesus of Nazareth to shew that they looked upon him as an impostor, who was neither a prophet nor the Messiah, and that they held him in the greatest contempt; and in that view the modern Jews give him the same appellation.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Mat 26:71 . ] from the court-yard to the porch , which, passing through some part of the buildings that stood round the four sides of the former, conducted into the anterior court outside ( ; according to Mar 14:68 , it was in this latter that the present denial took place). Comp. Hermann, Privatalterth . 19. 9 ff. In spite of the plain meaning of , door, doorway (see Luk 16:20 ; Act 10:17 ; Act 12:13 f., Mat 14:13 ; Rev 21 ), it is usually supposed that it is the outer court in front of the house, the (see Poll. i. 77, ix. 16), that is meant.
] belongs to , while , in accordance with a loose usage of frequent occurrence (Winer, p. 137 f. [E. T. 181]), is meant to refer to the people generally whom she happened to meet with. It would be wrong to connect with (Matthaei, Scholz), because in such a connection it would be meaningless.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.
Ver. 71. And when he was gone out, &c. ] The orifice of his wound was not yet closed, and therefore bled afresh so soon again. Thus Lot committed incest two nights together; &c. See Trapp on “ Mat 26:43 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Mat 26:71 . . , to or towards the gateway, away from the crowd in the court. ( ), another saw him, and said, not to him, but to others there (not easy to escape 1). , etc., this person, pointing to him, was, etc.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
gone out. To avoid further questioning.
another. Another [maid]; feminine. See App-124.
This fellow was also = This [man] also was.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Mat 26:71. , as he was going forth) The flying from temptation, when it is too late, involves fresh danger.-, another) sc. maid-servant; and simultaneously the former, who instigated this other, and also a male attendant. See Mar 14:69, and Luk 22:58. The denial, made under one impulse, to the questions of more than one interrogator, is considered as one: and yet he is said to have denied thrice:[1164] [how often, therefore, must he have uttered the denial!]- , Jesus the Nazarene) the surname Nazarene is added to distinguish Him from the many others who bore the name at that time. The Son of God bore a name common amongst men.
[1164] The threefold denial of Peter is not to be reckoned by the distinctness of the persons, who interrogated him indiscriminately, nor with reference to the variety of expressions, several of which were comprised in one denial; but in relation to the diversity of place, time, and degree, characterizing each denial respectively. His first simple denial was succeeded by an oath, and this was succeeded thirdly by curses and imprecations added to the former protestations: Mat 26:70; Mat 26:72; Mat 26:74.-Harm., p. 535.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
maid Peter’s denial
Cf Mat 26:69; Mar 14:69; Luk 22:58; Joh 18:25 A discrepancy has been imagined in these accounts. Let it be remembered that an excited crowd had gathered, and that Peter was interrogated in two places: “With the servants” Mat 26:58 where the first charge was made Mat 26:69, “the porch” where a great number of people would be gathered, and where the second and third interrogations were made by “another maid” and by the crowd, i.e. “they”; Mat 26:71; Mat 26:73; Joh 18:25
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
when: Mar 14:68, Mar 14:69, Luk 22:58, Joh 18:25-27
This: Mat 26:61
Reciprocal: Mat 2:23 – He shall Mat 26:69 – Jesus Mar 10:47 – Jesus Act 4:13 – they took
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
6:71
This porch was a place a little further away from the main building. The statement of the first damsel alarmed him and he was induced to move farther away. But even at this place his presence was noticed and a maid connected him with Jesus.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
SECOND DENIAL; Mat 26:71-72.
Mat 26:71. Into the porch. In his embarrassing position, he left the fire, going out to the arched gateway leading from the court to the street; probably no further. Mark mentions a crowing of the cock, while he was there (comp. Mar 14:30). As Peter himself probably informed Mark of this, it was not the cock-crow that brought him to repentance; nor does he conceal his forgetfulness of the signal.
Another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there. This second recognition seems to have been a general one, beginning by the fire (John, who probably stood there and tells what he himself witnessed), recurring in the porch, where this maid attacked him (Matthew, Mark). If the maid mentioned in Mat 26:69, was not the porteress, then it is possible that she takes up her banter again. Luke tells of a man recognizing him; probably a servant standing in the porch, one of those to whom the maid spoke. At such a time such a charge would awaken further remark.
Jesus the Nazarene. Again, a womans weapon, of contempt and ridicule; potent enough, when human weakness is not supported by Divine grace.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Mat 26:71-72. When he was gone out into the porch Or portico, as Dr. Doddridge renders it, who observes, I apprehend that the word , (used by Mark here.) most exactly answers to the Latin word vestibulum, by which many interpreters render it. And, considering the magnificence of the Jewish buildings at this time, it is reasonable to conclude that this, which belonged to the high-priests palace, was some stately piazza, or colonnade; and therefore I choose rather to render it, portico, than porch, a word applicable to the meanest buildings of that kind. Another maid saw him, and said, This fellow was also with Jesus Whatever he may pretend to the contrary, and how positively soever he may deny it. And again he denied with an oath A sin to which possibly he was not unaccustomed before our Lord called him. Saying, I do not know the man Jesus was so public a person, and so well known to thousands, not at all in his interest, that this additional falsehood was most unnecessary; and, as it frequently happens when people allow themselves to transgress the bounds of truth, it was more likely to entangle and discover him than to clear him. A learned divine conjectures, that Peter was suffered to fall more foully than any of the rest of the apostles, except Judas the traitor, and to make more remarkable mistakes in his conduct, that we might thus be cautioned against that extravagant regard which would afterward be demanded to him and his pretended successors. How must these people, before whom Peter denied his Lord, be surprised when they saw, as no doubt some of them did, this timorous disciple, within the compass of a few weeks, when he was brought with John before the council, not only maintaining the cause and honour of Jesus, but boldly charging the murder of this Prince of life on the chief men of the nation, and solemnly warning them of their guilt and danger in consequence of it. Act 4:5-12. Perhaps when it is said there, Mat 26:13, that they took knowledge of Peter and John that they had been with Jesus, the meaning may be, that some of them, or their attendants, remembered Peter and John as the two persons who had followed Jesus thus far, when the rest had forsaken him. See Clarkes Seventeen Sermons, p. 236, and Doddridge.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Peter withdrew to the gateway leading from the street into the courtyard, perhaps because that area was darker and there were fewer people there. There another girl pointed him out to others standing about as one who had been with Jesus "of Nazareth," another derogatory slur in view of the bad reputation of Nazareth (cf. Mat 2:23). Peter denied her accusation, this time with an oath. Matthew did not mean that Peter used profanity, but he invoked a curse on himself if he was lying. He appealed to something sacred to confirm his truthfulness (cf. Mat 5:33-34; Mat 23:16-22).