Bible Strands
Acts 10:26
But Peter helped him up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Peter speaks to Cornelius at the exact moment Cornelius falls at his feet to worship him. Peter physically lifts him up and verbally commands him to rise.
The words — ἤγειρεν (ēgeiren) means "lifted up" and ἀνέστηθι (anastēthi) is the imperative "stand up." Peter uses these verbs to physically and verbally interrupt Cornelius's posture of reverence.
The thread — This refusal of worship runs parallel to the angel's rebuke in Revelation 19:10 and Revelation 22:8, where created beings reject veneration. It also aligns with Jesus's command in Matthew 4:10 to direct worship exclusively to God.
Why it lands — The text states that Peter rejects worship by identifying himself merely as a man. It requires the reader to stop attributing divine honor to any human figure.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
Cross-references
- Revelation 19:10 So I fell at his feet to worship him. But he told me, “Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who rely on the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
- Revelation 22:8 And I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown me these things.
- Matthew 4:10 “Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus told him. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”
- Acts 14:14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul found out about this, they tore their clothes and rushed into the crowd, shouting,
- Isaiah 42:8 I am the LORD; that is My name! I will not yield My glory to another or My praise to idols.
- Isaiah 48:13 Surely My own hand founded the earth, and My right hand spread out the heavens; when I summon them, they stand up together.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no one deceive you in any way, for it will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness—the son of destruction—is revealed.
- Revelation 13:8 And all who dwell on the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written from the foundation of the world in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb who was slain.