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.
