consider all who were present. [She feared lest it might bring her into trouble, if she were to admit any one of our Lord's followers, and on this ground she took Peter to task ; the others took up the matter after her. None of them appear to have intended to bring Peter into danger. Careless worldlings fre quently produce greater harm or advantage to the saints than they suppose or intend — B. G. V.] — fada, for the ordinary %;, thou wast. Thus also the LXX. in Ps. ix. 14.
70. Asywv, saying] In how few words how great a sin may be committed ! See ch. xii. 24, and the close of Acts v. 8.
71. 'E^gXSoi/ra, as he urns going forth) The flying from temp tation, when it is too late, involves fresh danger. — «XX>j, another) sc. maid-servant ; and simultaneously the former, who instigated this other, and also a male attendant. See Mark xiv. 69, and Luke xxii. 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 :l [how often, therefore, must he have uttered the denial !] — 'iJio-oD ro\j Xa?upa!ou, 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.
72. Mg0' Spxov, with an oath) Oaths do not seem to have been inconsistent with Peter's former habits. — rbv civdpuvov, the man) as if Peter did not even know the name of Jesus.
73. E/r, thou art) The present tense. The temptation in creases. Previously they had said rfida., thou icast, ver. G9, in the imperfect. — XaX/a, speech) i.e., manner of speaking, dialect. If Peter had remained silent, he would have been in less danger of discovery : by denying, which involved speaking, he increased the danger. Those men had, however, stronger proofs by which to convict Peter (see ver. 47 and 51) ; but the world generally employs the weakest arguments of all against the
1 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 : ver. 70, 72, 74. — Harm., p. 535.