Inquiry:
What was Jesus’ prediction regarding Peter’s denial? Matthew 26:34 says, “…Verily I say unto thee, that this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.” But Mark 14:30 says, “…Verily I say unto thee, that this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.” Is there a contradiction?
Response:
On this, Albert Barnes comments,
“The cock is accustomed to crow twice, once at midnight, and once in the morning, at break of day. The latter was commonly called cock-crowing. See Mark 13:35. This was the time familiarly known as the cock-crowing; and of this Matthew and John speak, without referring to the other. Mark and Luke speak of the second crowing, and mean the same time; so that there is no contradiction between them.” (Barnes New Testament Notes).
There is no contradiction.
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