Matthew 26:69-75 (also Mk. 14:66-72; Lu. 22:55-62; Jn. 18:25-27)

Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” 71 When he had gone out to the gateway, another servant-girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 And again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man.” 73 A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Surely you too are one of them; for even the way you talk gives you away.” 74 Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, “Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

In this account of Peter’s three denials, it appears that all four gospels generally agree to the details. Peter (and possibly John) was standing (and also sitting) in the courtyard with slaves and officers, warming themselves around a charcoal fire, waiting for what was to be done with Jesus as the high priest was questioning Him (Jn. 18:19-24).

Then suddenly as they were sitting around the fire, a servant-girl, followed by another servant-girl, came and accused Peter of being one of Jesus’ followers. And Peter denied it each time. Then about an hour later a bystander accused him and he again denied it. And it seemed that with each accusation Peter’s denial became stronger, And on the third denial, by the bystander, Peter even began to curse and swear—trying to make his denial more believable.

Then, without warning, after Peter’s third denial a rooster crowed, and Peter remembered what Jesus said, “Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” Also, as Peter was remembering what Jesus said, he turned and saw Jesus looking straight at him. At that point Peter began to weep, and he ran out of the courtyard still weeping bitterly.

We hear nothing more about Peter or any of the disciples until after Jesus was resurrected. But I think that at the point of Peter’s weeping, this was the point of his repentance. And from that day to His resurrection, I think it may be assumed that they all were repentant of their betrayal of Jesus, were morning His death, and were very confused.