So Peter went down to the men and said, “Here am I, the one you are looking for. Why have you come?”
Parallel translations
- WEB Peter went down to the men, and said, “Behold, I am he whom you seek. Why have you come?”
- KJV Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?
- NKJV Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, “Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?”
- NASB Peter went down to the men and said, “Behold, I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for which you have come?”
- NLT So Peter went down and said, “I’m the man you are looking for. Why have you come?”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Peter goes down and identifies himself, asking why they have come. His willing approach shows he is already yielding to the Spirit's direction.
Overview
Peter's readiness to meet the Gentile messengers face to face signals that the vision has begun to do its work in him. By asking their purpose he invites the explanation that will confirm God's hand. The scene shows a once-reluctant apostle stepping toward the very people he had been taught to keep at a distance.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Mark 10:51“What do you want Me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “Rabboni,” said the blind man, “let me see again.”
- Acts 10:29So when I was invited, I came without objection. I ask, then, why have you sent for me?”
- John 1:38–39Jesus turned and saw them following. “What do you want?” He asked. They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are You staying?”
- John 18:4–8Jesus, knowing all that was coming upon Him, stepped forward and asked them, “Whom are you seeking?”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 10:21 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.