When Simon Peter saw it
The multitude of fish that was taken, and both vessels filled with them, and the danger they were in of sinking,
he fell down at Jesus' knees.
The Arabic and Persic versions read, "at" his "feet": he fell on his knees before him, and threw himself prostrate at his feet, as a worshipper of him, and a supplicant unto him:
saying, depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord;
this he said, not as though the presence of Christ was burdensome, or disagreeable to him; but as one amazed at the greatness of the miracle wrought, and struck with the sense of the power of Christ, put forth therein; and with the greatness of his majesty so near him; and as conscious to himself of his own vileness and unworthiness to be in his presence; and so the Persic version adds, and which may serve as a comment, "and am not worthy that thou shouldst be with me": he had much the same sense of things as the centurion had, ( Matthew 8:8 ) and when it is considered how gracious persons have been struck with awe and fear, and a consciousness of sin, weakness, and unworthiness, at the appearance of an angel, as Zacharias, ( Luke 1:12 ) and the shepherds, ( Luke 2:9 ) yea, at the presence of an holy man of God, as the widow of Sarepta at Elijah, saying much the same as Peter does here, ( 1 Kings 17:18 ) it need not be wondered at, that Peter should so express himself, in these circumstances.