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I. PETER'S SIN.

1. The sin itself. It was the denial of his Lord. He denied that he knew Jesus. He was ashamed to own his connection with Jesus. And he yielded to the impulse of his shame and base fear.

2. But, secondly, let us attend to the circumstances of Peter's sin. We cannot take the measure of it, or see it in a just light, till these are considered. The circumstances are of two sorts.

(1) In the first place, there are the aggravating circumstances —

(a) The first circumstance of an aggravating nature was the rank he held among the followers of Jesus. Peter was more than an ordinary disciple. He was one of the twelve. He was an apostle. Moreover, he was one of the three nearest to the Lord in intercourse and love.

(b) The second circumstance of aggravation was, that Peter had been warned of his danger.

(c) It was also an aggravating circumstance in the case, that Peter had made great professions. When we read the sad story of his threefold denial, we are disposed to exclaim, What can this mean? Is this the bold confessor who was the first to avow his faith in the Messiahship of Jesus?

(d) Fourthly, Peter's sin took aa aggravation from the circumstance that it was committed in the presence of Jesus.

(e) Peter denied his Lord at a time of love. He had just received the Holy Communion. And now the Passion of the Saviour was begun:(2) The extenuating circumstances in Peter's case. It is no less important to mark these, than to consider, as has been done, such as were of an aggravating nature.

(a) First, then, it was an extenuating circumstance that he was surprised into the commission of his sin. The denial of his Lord was not deliberate.

(b) Secondly, an important circumstance of extenuation was, that the sin was contrary to the tenor of Peter's life.

(c) It should not be overlooked, that it seems to have been Peter's love for Christ that exposed him to the temptation by which he was overcome.

(d) Fourthly, Peter was comparatively ignorant. Some allowance must be made, in the case of our apostle, for the prejudices which affected the universal Jewish mind. We must not judge him as if he had understood, as we do, or as he himself did afterwards, by what means it was that the peculiar work of Jesus, as the Messiah, was to be accomplished.

(e) It is fit we should remember that the hour and the power of darkness were come.

II. PETER'S REPENTANCE.

1. Its origin.

(1)  Christ's prayer was the procuring cause of it.

(2)  The instrumental cause.

(a)  Christ's look.

(b)  Christ's word.

(3) The influence of the Spirit of God was the efficient cause.

2. The signs, tokens, and manifestation of Peter's repentance.

(1)  He went out. A change came over his feelings, and he could remain no longer in the society of the irreligious servants and officers.

(2)  He deeply mourned for his sin.

(3)  He sought the society of Christ's disciples.

(4)  His love to the Lord revived.

3. The acceptance of Peter's repentance.

(1)  A message sent through the holy women.

(2)  Christ's interview with him alone.

(3)  The more public interview in Galilee.

4. Peter's repentance thus graciously accepted, what were the issues of it? He was the boldest of the bold, from that time forward, in confessing Christ. There was less boasting than there had been before; but he never flinched again. There were no more denials.

(A. Gray.)

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KJV: And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.

WEB: When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard, and had sat down together, Peter sat among them.