And he said,.... "To him", as all the Oriental versions add; to Peter, as what is said shows; that is, Jesus said to him, as the Syriac and Persic versions express:
I tell thee, Peter; who knew him, and his heart, better than he did himself, as well as knew what was to come, and what would befall him; and therefore declares it, as he does with the greatest assurance and certainty, and which might be depended on, and accordingly came to pass:
the cock shall not crow this day; in this night, as in Mark 14:30 or this night, as in Matthew 26:34 for it was now night; a natural day includes both night and day; a like way of speaking, see in Luke 2:8
before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me; as he did,