Acts 10:26

26 But Peter helped him up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”

Acts 10:26 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 10:26

But Peter took him up
As he lay at his feet, and lifted him up and set him on his legs:

saying, stand up;
and continue in this posture:

I myself also am a man;
a mortal man, a man of like passions with others, no better than others by nature: and it was by grace, and not any merit of his own, that he was a believer in Christ, and an apostle of his; and therefore he chose not to have any distinguishing homage and respect paid to him, and especially in any excessive and extravagant way; which though not designed, might carry in it a suggestion, as if he was more than a man.

Acts 10:26 In-Context

24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea, where Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

25 As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet to worship him.

26 But Peter helped him up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”

27 As Peter talked with him, he went inside and found many people gathered together.

28 He said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with a foreigner or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.