53And they led Jesus to the high priest. And all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together.

54And Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he was sitting with the guards and warming himself at the fire.

55Now the chief priests and the whole Council were seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none.

56For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree.

57And some stood up and bore false witness against him, saying,

58"We heard him say, 'I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.'"

59Yet even about this their testimony did not agree.

60And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, "Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?"

61But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?"

62And Jesus said, "I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven."

63And the high priest tore his garments and said, "What further witnesses do we need?

64You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?" And they all condemned him as deserving death.

65And some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to strike him, saying to him, "Prophesy!" And the guards received him with blows.

66And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came,

67and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, "You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus."

68But he denied it, saying, "I neither know nor understand what you mean." And he went out into the gateway and the rooster crowed.

69And the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, "This man is one of them."

70But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, "Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean."

71But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, "I do not know this man of whom you speak."

72And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times." And he broke down and wept.