Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 26:69-70

"Now Peter was sitting without in the court: and a maid came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus the Galilaean. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest." — Matthew 26:69-70 (ASV)

While our Lord was in the high priest’s house, Peter sat outside in the palace. In the courtyard overlooked by the rooms of the palace, the servants and officers had lit a fire to warm themselves while they waited to see what would be done with Jesus.

Peter joined the company, and a young woman, who had let him in at John’s request, said to him, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.” Now came the test of his confident boast to his Lord, “Though I should die with you, yet will I not deny you.” But he denied before them all, saying, “I do not know what you say.” Whatever the consequences of confessing Christ might have been to Peter, they could not have been as bad as this base denial was.