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Event New Testament

Peter denies Jesus

Also known as The rooster crows

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While Jesus was questioned inside, Peter waited in the high priest's courtyard by a fire. Three times he was identified as a follower of Jesus, and three times he denied it, the last time with an oath. A rooster crowed, Peter remembered Jesus' warning, and he went out and wept bitterly.

Why it matters. The disciple who confessed Jesus as the Christ denies knowing Him. The story is told without softening in every Gospel, and it prepares for the restoration recorded after the resurrection.

Primary passages
Dates
AD 30 to 33 (approximate) (medium confidence, Passover week of the crucifixion under Pontius Pilate; AD 30 and AD 33 are the leading proposals)

The event belongs to the final week before the crucifixion, which is dated to AD 30 or AD 33 on calendrical grounds. FaithGraph records the range and does not choose.

Witnesses

Chronology confidence: high

All four Gospels record three denials in the high priest's courtyard during the hearing. The questioners and their order differ between accounts; Mark records two rooster crows; Luke records the Lord turning to look at Peter. John intersperses the denials with the hearing before Annas.

Last reviewed
2026-08-30 by the FaithGraph team

Connections

  1. The trial before the Sanhedrin precedes Peter denies Jesus

    Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidence

    The denials take place in the courtyard while the hearing proceeds; Matthew narrates them after the verdict.

    Evidence:

    Follow The trial before the Sanhedrin in the graph

  2. Peter denies Jesus precedes The trial before Pilate

    Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidence

    At morning the council hands Jesus to Pilate.

    Evidence:

    Follow The trial before Pilate in the graph

  3. Jesus participates in Peter denies Jesus

    Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidence

    Luke records the Lord turning to look at Peter as the rooster crowed.

    Evidence:

    Follow Jesus in the graph

  4. John the apostle participates in Peter denies Jesus

    Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidence

    John records another disciple, known to the high priest, who brought Peter into the courtyard; Christian tradition identifies him with John.

    Evidence:

    Follow John the apostle in the graph

  5. Peter participates in Peter denies Jesus

    Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidence

    Peter denies Jesus three times in the courtyard.

    Evidence:

    Follow Peter in the graph

  6. Peter denies Jesus occurs at Jerusalem

    Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidence

    The denials take place in the high priest's courtyard in Jerusalem.

    Evidence:

    Follow Jerusalem in the graph

Record type: Event. FaithGraph explanations on this page are editorial and are not Scripture.