But Peter helped him up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”
Parallel translations
- WEB But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up! I myself am also a man.”
- KJV But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
- ESV But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.”
- NKJV But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man.”
- NASB But Peter helped him up, saying, “Stand up; I, too, am just a man.”
- NLT But Peter pulled him up and said, “Stand up! I’m a human being just like you!”
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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 raises Cornelius up, insisting he too is only a man. He refuses worship that belongs to God alone.
Overview
Peter's response stands in sharp contrast to those who accept divine honors (cf. Herod in 12:22-23). True servants of God deflect worship to their Maker. The verse upholds the central biblical conviction that worship is reserved for God, distinguishing the apostles' ministry from idolatry and self-exaltation; only Christ, who is both God and man, rightly receives such homage.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Rev 19:10So 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.”
- Rev 22:8–9And I am John, 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.
- Matt 4:10“Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus declared. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”
- Acts 14:14–15But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul found out about this, they tore their clothes and rushed into the crowd, shouting,
- Isa 42:8I am the LORD; that is My name! I will not yield My glory to another or My praise to idols.
- Isa 48:13Surely My own hand founded the earth, and My right hand spread out the heavens; when I summon them, they stand up together.
- 2 Th 2:3–4Let 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.
- Rev 13:8And 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.
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 10:26 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.