22:31-34 What follows on after this?

(cp Mt 26:31-35; Mk 14:26-31; Jn 13:36-38). Here Jesus predicts that Peter would deny him three times that night before the cock crowed. Peter denied that he would, but the gospel writers record it happening exactly as Jesus had foretold (cp Mt 26:69-75; Mk 14:66-72; Lk 22:54-62; Jn 18:15-18, 25-27).

It is interesting to note here that while all the gospel writers record Peter as denying Jesus three times before the cock crowed, there are six different denials before six different accusers.

Here are the accusers in scriptural order: a young woman (cp Mt 26:69-70; Mk 14:66-68; Lk 22:56-57; Jn 18:16-17), another young woman, soon after (cp Mt 26:71-72; Mk 14:69-70). Those standing nearby (cp Mt 26:73-75; Mk 14:70-72; Jn 18:25). A man (cp Lk 22:58). Another man, about an hour later (cp Lk 22:59-62). A servant of the high priest whose kinsman's ear Peter cut off when Jesus was arrested (cp Jn 18:26-27).

It might also be noted here that Matthew and Mark record Christ's prediction of Peter denying Him as being spoken on the Mount of Olives, on the way to the Garden of Gethsemane (cp Mt 26:30, 34; Mk 14:26-27). Luke and John record it as being said in the upper room, after the last supper (cp Lk 22:34, 39-40; Jn 13:28, 38).

Also, the inference from Matthew, Luke and John's gospels is that the cock would only crow once after Peter had denied Jesus three times, whereas Mark records Jesus as saying that before the cock crowed twice, Peter would deny Him three times (cp Mt 26:34; Lk 22:34; Jn 13:18 with Mk 14:30).

It may be a problem for some to reconcile these discrepancies, but they are trivial and insignificant compared to the essential substance of Christ's words, that some time during that night Peter would deny Him whom he had just professed himself so ready to die for, which teaches just how easy it is under stress to deny Jesus. This is the point Jesus was making and it is more important to know that than to worry about seeming discrepancies.

Luke:-