Luke 22:61 Meaning and Explanation
“And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The Lord turns and looks at Peter, and Peter remembers the prediction.
What Does Luke 22:61 Mean?
Jesus - visible across the courtyard, perhaps as he was led between hearings - turns and looks directly at Peter. No word is spoken. Under that gaze, memory floods back: 'Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.'
Everything depends on what was in that look, and the rest of the story tells us: not contempt but the grief of love - from the same Lord who had said, 'I have prayed for thee' (verse 32). It is the look that breaks a heart in order to heal it. Christ's eye still finds his people in mid-failure, and it is the kindest severity in the world. Peter is remembered by the One he disowned - which is why he can weep instead of despair.
Luke 22:61 in the Original Language
emblepo (ἐμβλέπω), 'looked upon' -- to fix one's gaze directly on someone.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 22:61
What does Luke 22:61 mean?
The Lord turns and looks at Peter, and Peter remembers the prediction.