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?
Parallel translations
- WEB Peter went down to the men, and said, “Behold, I am he whom you seek. Why have you come?”
- BSB So Peter went down to the men and said, “Here am I, the one you are looking for. Why have you 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 10:51And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.
- Acts 10:29Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?
- John 1:38–39Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?
- John 18:4–8Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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.