Part 700 (1/2)

22:44. And his sweat became as drops of blood, trickling down upon the ground.

22:45. And when he rose up from prayer and was come to the disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow.

22:46. And he said to them: Why sleep you? Arise: pray: lest you enter into temptation.

22:47. As he was yet speaking, behold a mult.i.tude; and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus, for to kiss him.

22:48. And Jesus said to him: Judas, dost thou betray the Son of man with a kiss?

22:49. And they that were about him, seeing what would follow, said to him: Lord, shall we strike with the sword?

22:50. And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.

22:51. But Jesus answering, said: Suffer ye thus far. And when he had touched his ear, he healed him.

22:52. And Jesus said to the chief priests and magistrates of the temple and the ancients, that were come unto him: Are ye come out, as it were against a thief, with swords and clubs?

22:53. When I was daily with you in the temple, you did not stretch forth your hands against me: but this is your hour and the power of darkness.

22:54. And apprehending him, they led him to the high priest's house.

But Peter followed afar off.

22:55. And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall and were sitting about it, Peter was in the midst of them.

22:56. Whom when a certain servant maid had seen sitting at the light and had earnestly beheld him, she said: This man also was with him.

22:57. But he denied him, saying: Woman, I know him not.

22:58. And after a little while, another seeing him, said: Thou also art one of them. But Peter said: O man, I am not.

Another, etc... Observe here, in order to reconcile the four Evangelists, that divers persons concurred in charging Peter with being Christ's disciple; till at length they brought him to deny him thrice.

1. The porteress that let him in, and afterwards seeing him at the fire, first put the question to him; and then positively affirmed that he was with Christ. 2. Another maid accused him to the standers by; and gave occasion to the man here mentioned to renew the charge against him, which caused the second denial. 3. Others of the company took notice of his being a Galilean; and were seconded by the kinsman of Malchus, who affirmed he had seen him in the garden. And this drew on the third denial.

22:59. And after the s.p.a.ce, as it were of one hour, another certain man affirmed, saying: Of a truth, this man was also with him: for he is also a Galilean.

22:60. And Peter said: Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, as he was yet speaking, the c.o.c.k crew.

22:61. And the Lord turning looked on Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, as he had said: Before the c.o.c.k crow, thou shalt deny thrice.

22:62. And Peter going out, wept bitterly.

22:63. And the men that held him mocked him and struck him.

22:64. And they blindfolded him and smote his face. And they asked him saying: Prophesy: Who is it that struck thee?

22:65. And blaspheming, many other things they said against him.

22:66. And as soon as it was day, the ancients of the people and the chief priests and scribes came together. And they brought him into their council saying: If thou be the Christ, tell us.