House of Caiaphas &

Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu (Cock Crow)

Located just South of Mount Zion)

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

Compare and Contrast Mark 14:26-31

Matthew 26:31-35Luke 22:31-24-33

John 13:31-38

Mark 14:26-3126 When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 27And Jesus said to them, ‘You

will all become deserters; for it is written,“I will strike the shepherd,   and the sheep will be scattered.” 28But after I am raised up, I will go before you to

Galilee.’ 29Peter said to him, ‘Even though all become deserters, I will not.’ 30Jesus said to him, ‘Truly I tell you, this day, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.’ 31But he said

vehemently, ‘Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.’ And all of them said the same.

Bible StudyWhat do we know about Peter from scripture?

Who was he? What was his relationship to Jesus?

How did Jesus’ disciples respond when Jesus said that one of them would betray Him?

What does Peter’s response here reveal about him and his faith?

Tell about a time when your loyalty was called into question.

Peter’s Denial of JesusCompare and contrast

Mark 15:66-72Matthew 26:69-75

Luke 22:56-62John 18:15-18, 25-27

Mark 14:66-72 66 While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-

girls of the high priest came by. 67When she saw Peter warming himself, she stared at him and said, ‘You also were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.’ 68But he denied it, saying, ‘I do not

know or understand what you are talking about.’ And he went out into the forecourt. Then the cock crowed. 69And the servant-girl, on seeing him, began again to say to the bystanders, ‘This man is one of them.’ 70But again he denied it. Then 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 curse, and he swore an oath, ‘I do not know this man you are talking about.’ 72At that moment the cock crowed for the second time. Then

Peter remembered that Jesus had said to him, ‘Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.’ And he broke down

and wept.

Bible studyWhy do you think Peter denied knowing Jesus?What is the significance of Peter denying Jesus

three times?Why were the bystanders concerned about who

Peter was?Tell about a time when you have denied your

faith.

Steps from Gethsemane leading to House of Caiaphas. These would have been the steps that

the soldiers would have taken Jesus after capturing him in Gethsemane.

Video

The church of St Peter in Galligantu is built on four different levels — upper church, middle church, guardroom and

dungeon. The modern church was built in 1931 on the site of a Crusader-era church from 1102 and a Byzantine shrine

built in 457.

In the courtyard a statue depicts Peter’s denial, including the rooster, the woman

who questioned Peter, and a Roman soldier.

The ceiling is a striking feature. It is dominated by a huge cross-shaped window

designed in a radiant variety of colors.

The mosaic over the altar depicts a bound Jesus being questioned by the Sanhidrin in the house of

CaiaphasVideo

Closer look at center mosaic

Downstairs, in the middle church, icons above the altars depict St

Peter’s denial

Peter’s repentance and his reconciliation with his Master on the shore of the Sea of Galilee after the

Resurrection

Peter lamenting after denial

Jesus held captive

This underground cavern is believed to be where Jesus was imprisoned.

The guardroom contains wall fixtures to attach prisoners’ chains. Holes in the stone pillars would have been used to fasten a

prisoner’s hands and feet when he was flogged.Video

The only access to the bottle-necked prisoner cell was through a shaft from above, so the prisoner would have been lowered and raised by means of a rope harness.

It is assumed Jesus was lowered into the pit through this shaft

Prisoner cell (Sacred Pit) where Jesus was supposedly held captive

Silhouette of praying figure