Again Peter said “No” is literally “Again therefore (Greek oun) Peter denied.” The restructuring of Good News Translation into direct discourse is a stylistic device to achieve dramatic effect.

For the prediction that Peter would deny Jesus, see 13.38. Some commentators maintain that the phrase translated a rooster crowed actually refers to the blowing of the trumpet at the close of the third watch during the night, the watch called “rooster’s crow.” This would mean that the interrogation of Jesus went on until three o’clock in the morning, since the third watch of the night extended from twelve midnight until three in the morning. However, it is more natural to take the phrase literally, as most translators do. It is reported that in Jerusalem the time that roosters crow is between three and five in the morning.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .