54 And having taken him, they led and brought him to the house of the chief priest. And Peter was following afar off, 55 and they having kindled a fire in the midst of the court, and having sat down together, Peter was sitting in the midst of them, 56 and a certain maid having seen him sitting at the light, and having earnestly looked at him, she said, 'And this one was with him!' 57 and he disowned him, saying, 'Woman, I have not known him.' 58 And after a little, another having seen him, said, 'And thou art of them!' and Peter said, 'Man, I am not.' 59 And one hour, as it were, having intervened, a certain other was confidently affirming, saying, 'Of a truth this one also was with him, for he is also a Galilean;' 60 and Peter said, 'Man, I have not known what thou sayest;' and presently, while he is speaking, a cock crew. 61 And the Lord having turned did look on Peter, and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he said to him—'Before a cock shall crow, thou mayest disown me thrice;' 62 and Peter having gone without, wept bitterly.
63 And the men who were holding Jesus were mocking him, beating 'him'; 64 and having blindfolded him, they were striking him on the face, and were questioning him, saying, 'Prophesy who he is who smote thee?' 65 and many other things, speaking evilly, they spake in regard to him.
66 And when it became day there was gathered together the eldership of the people, chief priests also, and scribes, and they led him up to their own sanhedrim, 67 saying, 'If thou be the Christ, tell us.' And he said to them, 'If I may tell you, ye will not believe; 68 and if I also question 'you', ye will not answer me or send me away; 69 henceforth, there shall be the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the power of God.' 70 And they all said, 'Thou, then, art the Son of God?' and he said unto them, 'Ye say 'it', because I am;' 71 and they said, 'What need yet have we of testimony? for we ourselves did hear 'it' from his mouth.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Luke 22:54-71
Commentary on Luke 22:54-62
(Read Luke 22:54-62)
Peter's fall was his denying that he knew Christ, and was his disciple; disowning him because of distress and danger. He that has once told a lie, is strongly tempted to persist: the beginning of that sin, like strife, is as the letting forth of water. The Lord turned and looked upon Peter. 1. It was a convincing look. Jesus turned and looked upon him, as if he should say, Dost thou not know me, Peter? 2. It was a chiding look. Let us think with what a rebuking countenance Christ may justly look upon us when we have sinned. 3. It was an expostulating look. Thou who wast the most forward to confess me to be the Son of God, and didst solemnly promise thou wouldest never disown me! 4. It was a compassionate look. Peter, how art thou fallen and undone if I do not help thee! 5. It was a directing look, to go and bethink himself. 6. It was a significant look; it signified the conveying of grace to Peter's heart, to enable him to repent. The grace of God works in and by the word of God, brings that to mind, and sets that home upon the conscience, and so gives the soul the happy turn. Christ looked upon the chief priests, and made no impression upon them as he did on Peter. It was not the mere look from Christ, but the Divine grace with it, that restored Peter.
Commentary on Luke 22:63-71
(Read Luke 22:63-71)
Those that condemned Jesus for a blasphemer, were the vilest blasphemers. He referred them to his second coming, for the full proof of his being the Christ, to their confusion, since they would not admit the proof of it to their conviction. He owns himself to be the Son of God, though he knew he should suffer for it. Upon this they ground his condemnation. Their eyes being blinded, they rush on. Let us meditate on this amazing transaction, and consider Him who endured such contradiction of sinners against himself.