"Surely thou art one of them, for even thy speech doth betray thee."
Even the commoner sort in Jerusalem made fun of the pronunciation and talk of the north country folk, and Peter had only to open his mouth to prove that he was unmistakably from Galilee. Poor Peter, he had been getting more and more frightened. Thoroughly terrified now, he began to curse and to swear, saying:
"I know not this Man of whom you speak."
The cock crew again, and at the same moment our Lord passed through the court. He was suffering cruelly from the hands of His tormentors, but more cruelly from the lips of His chosen disciple who had denied Him. Yet there was no indignation in His Heart. Rather was It full of pity for one who after all had followed Him into danger out of love.
And the Lord turning looked on Peter. And Peter remembered the word that Jesus had said unto him: "Before the cock crow twice thou shalt thrice deny Me." And, going forth, he wept bitterly.
