Luke 22 59

Luke 22:59 kjv

And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean.

Luke 22:59 nkjv

Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, "Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean."

Luke 22:59 niv

About an hour later another asserted, "Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean."

Luke 22:59 esv

And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, "Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean."

Luke 22:59 nlt

About an hour later someone else insisted, "This must be one of them, because he is a Galilean, too."

Luke 22 verses

Luke 22 59 Meaning

Luke 22:59 describes the third and final denial of Peter regarding his association with Jesus. After a significant period, another accuser confidently identifies Peter not only as a companion of Jesus but also by the revealing evidence of his Galilean accent. This accusation culminates the prophecy of Jesus concerning Peter's denial before the rooster crows.

Luke 22 59 Context

Luke 22:59 occurs in the High Priest's courtyard, shortly after Jesus' arrest and initial questioning, while His formal trial by the Sanhedrin is underway. Peter, following at a distance, has entered the courtyard and is warming himself by a fire alongside guards and servants. This setting of tension, fear, and imminent danger directly contributes to Peter's denial. It follows two earlier denials where Peter had already compromised, and this third accusation comes with strong conviction and concrete identifying evidence, leading directly to the rooster's crowing and Peter's bitter remorse.

Luke 22 59 Word analysis

• And after the space of about one hour had passed (Καὶ διιστάσης ὡς ὥρας μιᾶς):
  • διιστάσης (diastasēs): Participle from διίστημι (diistēmi), meaning "having separated," "intervened," or "passed." This denotes a distinct time interval, approximately an hour, between the second and third denials. It implies that the pressure on Peter was sustained and intensified over time, rather than a rapid, successive burst.
  • This temporal detail highlights the prolonged stress and repeated opportunities Peter had to confess or reconsider, underscoring the severity of his denial.
• another (ἄλλος τις - allos tis):
  • This individual is different from the first two accusers (the servant girl and the group of men). It suggests the accusation came from a fresh source, reinforcing the inevitability of Peter's exposure.
  • This detail underscores that the entire environment was hostile and observant, confirming Peter's perceived guilt.
• confidently affirmed (διισχυρίζετο - diischyrizeto):
  • Imperfect tense of διισχυρίζομαι (diischyrizomai), meaning "to strongly affirm," "insist," "assert with conviction." It describes an emphatic and persistent declaration.
  • This word shows the accuser's certainty, making the accusation more forceful and harder for Peter to refute convincingly. It indicates that the person was very sure of Peter's identity.
• saying (λέγων - legōn):
  • Introduces the direct and decisive accusation.
• “Of a truth (Ἐπ’ ἀληθείας - Ep' alētheias):
  • A strong Greek idiom meaning "truly," "indeed," or "in very deed." It is a solemn and definite declaration of certainty.
  • The accuser uses this phrase to lend absolute credibility and weight to the statement that follows. It's not a guess, but a perceived fact.
• this fellow also was with him (καὶ οὗτος μετ’ αὐτοῦ ἦν - kai houtos met’ autou ēn):
  • A direct accusation linking Peter unequivocally to Jesus ("him"). καὶ οὗτος (kai houtos) emphasizes "even this one" or "he too," reinforcing the perceived association.
  • This identifies Peter as a disciple, making him guilty by association in the eyes of the high priest's household during Jesus' trial.
• for he is a Galilean” (καὶ γὰρ Γαλιλαῖός ἐστιν - kai gar Galilaios estin):
  • καὶ γὰρ (kai gar) is an explanatory particle, meaning "for indeed," providing the immediate evidence for the confident affirmation.
  • Γαλιλαῖός (Galilaios): A person from Galilee. The distinctive accent and dialect of Galileans immediately marked them out from Judeans (e.g., their pronunciation of certain guttural sounds differed).
  • This linguistic identifier provided irrefutable proof, fulfilling the very means by which Jesus knew Peter would be identified (indirectly referenced in Mark and Matthew with "speech betrays you"). The Judeans often looked down upon Galileans, viewing them as unsophisticated and potentially rebellious, an attitude contributing to prejudice against Jesus and His disciples who were primarily from Galilee. This geographic and cultural identifier sealed Peter's denial.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And after the space of about one hour had passed, another confidently affirmed": This phrase emphasizes the methodical, not impulsive, nature of Peter's final test. The time interval prolongs his agony and tests his endurance, allowing internal struggle before the definitive exposure. The "confident affirmation" signifies the finality and conviction of the accuser, leaving no room for Peter's equivocation.
• "saying, “Of a truth this fellow also was with him, for he is a Galilean.”": This entire statement constitutes the final, damning evidence against Peter. "Of a truth" stresses absolute conviction. "This fellow also was with him" is the core accusation of association. The decisive "for he is a Galilean" provides the concrete and undeniable evidence, directly linking Peter's identity and background to Jesus through his unique accent. This fulfills Jesus' prophecy, underscoring divine foreknowledge against human frailty.

Luke 22 59 Bonus section

The strong emphasis on Peter's Galilean origin connects this denial to a broader social and geographical tension present in Jesus' time. Judeans often held a degree of disdain for Galileans, viewing them as provincial, less strict in religious observances, and speaking with a noticeable accent. This prejudice becomes a tool in God's plan, allowing Peter's denial to be confirmed by an undeniable trait, validating the historical authenticity of the biblical narrative and the accuracy of Jesus' foresight. Peter's identity, an aspect he could not shed, became the very thing that trapped him, serving as a powerful demonstration of how seemingly insignificant details can fulfill divine prophecy.

Luke 22 59 Commentary

Luke 22:59 marks the agonizing climax of Peter's denial. The detail of "about one hour" signifies a sustained period of internal conflict and external pressure, not an instantaneous failure, intensifying the weight of Peter's threefold betrayal. This final accusation, uttered with bold certainty, focuses on irrefutable evidence: Peter's Galilean accent. This common linguistic identifier became a direct and unavoidable sign of his association with Jesus, a Galilean teacher whose followers were also predominantly from that region. Peter's attempt to blend in fails because his very speech betrayed him, fulfilling the specific prophetic detail given by Jesus (as noted in Mt 26:73 and Mk 14:70). This moment highlights the depth of human weakness in the face of fear, even for one who had proclaimed fierce loyalty. It serves as a somber reminder that outward profession without deep, Spirit-fortified conviction can falter under pressure.