How many times did the rooster REALLY crow?

Earlier this week, I was invited to be on a morning radio talk show with two former colleagues of mine from my broadcasting days. It was very nice to reconnect with them after many years, and I am thankful that they had me on to talk about BEFORE THE ROOSTER CROWS TWICE. Towards the end of the chat, I was told by one of the hosts that "some would argue that the Bible is a bit contradictory as to whether the rooster crowed once or twice." (This happens to be a question one can find on the internet.) I was a bit caught off guard. The word 'contradictory' lit up in my brain and I twinged. I did not tell him that 'some' who say that - are wrong! But I should have. God's Word does not contradict itself and God makes no mistakes.

I continued to listen to the end of his statement with respect and proceeded to respond to the first part of his inquiry into my religious background. It was when I attempted to set the 'contradiction' statement straight that my 5am, non-awake brain decided to shut down - a phenomenon to many who do not get up before the sun. I could not remember if (in the Bible) after Jesus told Peter that he would deny Him 'three times' before the rooster crowed, it was documented that the rooster actually was heard crowing!

Back to the interview: Regarding how many times the rooster, in fact, crowed was not at the forefront of my brain. The real purpose of Jesus' statement, which I used as the title of my book, was to warn Peter that He would be denied by Peter. Now you'll have to read my book to find out why I used this scripture as the book's title. During the interview, I was confident in knowing that in the book of Mark, Jesus said to Peter, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny ME three times." After all, that's the title of the book, as I mentioned. However, I could not - at that foggy moment - remember if it was written in scripture the mention of the rooster making an appearance and crowing, or how many times!

I would now like to address the question. If you are as curious as the host was, I have your answer - straight off the pages of the Gospels.

Did the rooster actually crow at all?

Yes! The rooster crowed TWICE. There is NO contradiction here; there are only different styles of writing about the same incident with either detail or paraphase.

1. Matthew 26:34 "Jesus said to him, 'Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.'"

2. Luke 22:34 "Jesus said, 'I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know Me.'"

3. John 13:38 "Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied Me three times."

4. Mark 14:30 "And Jesus said to him, 'Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.'"

The three other books of the Gospel, aside from Mark, simply say the 'rooster crowed.' In those books, there is no mention of a number of crowings. Leaving out the fact that the rooster already crowed before it made its final crow does NOT mean that it did not crow more than once. It only shows us that the three accounts are not as detailed with the number of crowings as Mark was in telling us that the rooster crowed TWICE.

1. Matthew 26:74 "Then he began to curse and swear, saying, 'I do not know the Man!' Immediately a rooster crowed."

2. Luke: 22:60 "But Peter said, 'Man, I do not know what you are saying!' Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed."

3. John 18:27 "Peter than denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed."

4. Mark 14:72 "A second time the rooster crowed. Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, 'Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.' And when he thought about it, he wept."

Sometimes our foggy-brain moments spark further investigation into God's Word. That happened with this radio interview. God does work wonders, you know. ;)

C. Arden Michaels

"And he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." ~2 Corinthians 12:9