{Peter remembered} (emn(8873)th(8820)ho Petros). A small thing,
but _magna circumstantia_ (Bengel). In a flash of lightning
rapidity he recalled the words of Jesus a few hours before ( Mt
26:34 ) which he had then scouted with the proud boast that "even
if I must die with thee, yet will I not deny thee" ( 26:35 ). And
now this triple denial was a fact. There is no extenuation for
the base denials of Peter. He had incurred the dread penalty
involved in the words of Jesus in  Mt 10:33  of denial by Jesus
before the Father in heaven. But Peter's revulsion of feeling was
as sudden as his sin. {He went out and wept bitterly} (exelth(936e)
ex(9320)eklausen pikr(9373)). Luke adds that the Lord turned and looked
upon Peter ( Lu 22:61 ). That look brought Peter back to his
senses. He could not stay where he now was with the revilers of
Jesus. He did not feel worthy or able to go openly into the hall
where Jesus was. So outside he went with a broken heart. The
constative aorist here does not emphasize as Mark's imperfect
does ( Mr 14:72 , eklaien) the continued weeping that was now
Peter's only consolation. The tears were bitter, all the more so
by reason of that look of understanding pity that Jesus gave him.
One of the tragedies of the Cross is the bleeding heart of Peter.
Judas was a total wreck and Peter was a near derelict. Satan had
sifted them all as wheat, but Jesus had prayed specially for
Peter ( Lu 22:31f. ). Will Satan show Peter to be all chaff as
Judas was?