The sight of that pale, suffering face, those quivering lips, that look of compassion and forgiveness, pierced his heart like an arrow. Conscience was aroused. Memory was active. Peter called to mind his promise of a few short hours before that he would go with his Lord to prison and to death. He remembered his grief when the Saviour told him in the upper chamber that he would deny his Lord thrice that same night. Peter had just declared that he knew not Jesus, but he now realized with bitter grief how well his Lord knew him, and how accurately He had read his heart, the falseness of which was unknown even to himself.

Synet af dette blege, lidende ansigt, disse skælvende læber og dette medlidende og tilgivende udtryk ramte hans hjerte som en pil. Hans samvittighed vågnede. Erindringen blev levende. Peter mindedes det løfte, som han havde aflagt for ganske få timer siden, om at han ville følge sin Herre både til fængsel og død. Han huskede sin sorg, dengang Frelseren i salen ovenpå havde sagt til ham, at han tre gange den samme nat ville fornægte sin Herre. Lige nu havde Peter erklæret, at han ikke kendte Jesus, men nu blev han med den bitreste sorg klar over, hvor godt hans Herre kendte ham, og hvor nøje han havde læst i hans hjerte, hvis falskhed han ikke engang selv kendte.