Acts 10:26 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.”

NIV: But Peter made him get up. 'Stand up,' he said, 'I am only a man myself.'

NASB: But Peter helped him up, saying, 'Stand up; I, too, am just a man.'

CSB: But Peter lifted him up and said, "Stand up. I myself am also a man."

NLT: But Peter pulled him up and said, 'Stand up! I’m a human being just like you!'

KJV: But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.

NKJV: But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man.”

Peter is in Caesarea Maritima on the coast of Samaria at the home of Cornelius, a Roman centurion. An angel had visited Cornelius, who is a devout follower of the Jewish God, and told him to bring Peter and hear what the apostle has to say. Cornelius reverently and enthusiastically does so (Acts 10:1–8). That an angel should regard Peter with respect leaves such an impression on Cornelius that when Peter arrives, the centurion falls at Peter's feet in worship (Acts 10:25).

Peter immediately corrects Cornelius. Paul and Barnabas will face the same issue in Lystra when, impressed with their ability to heal, the people try to sacrifice to them as incarnations of Hermes and Zeus (Acts 14:12–13). When John receives his vision of the end times, he will mistakenly begin to worship an angel who will correct John and describe himself as "a fellow servant with you" (Revelation 19:10).

Not everyone is so circumspect, however. Caesarea Maritima is the headquarters of Herod Agrippa I who governs over Judea and Samaria. Cornelius is under his command. Luke doesn't designate the years the events in the book of Acts take place, but we know that in AD 41, Herod Agrippa I becomes king over the region and he is king "about that time" (Acts 12:1). He is reasonable to the Jews and well-liked by them. During a festival, he comes to greet the people wearing garments made with silver. The silver reflects the sunlight, causing him to glow. The audience responds, "Be thou merciful to us; for although we have hitherto reverenced thee only as a man, yet shall we henceforth Own thee as superior to moral nature" (Josephus Antiquities 19.8.2 343–361). Where in a calmer moment, Agrippa may have denied their worship, at this one he accepts it. He is "immediately" stricken, and according to Josephus, endures five days of severe abdominal pains before dying (Acts 12:20–23).

Peter has met God the Son. God the Son is a friend of his. Peter knows, on a very visceral level, that he's not God the Son.

Acts 10:24–33 describes the onset of the last step of Jesus' command for the disciples: to share His story in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Upon an angel's prompting, a Roman centurion named Cornelius has sent for Peter. Meanwhile, the Holy Spirit has been teaching Peter that Gentiles are no longer unclean (Acts 10:1–23). Peter will go to Cornelius and bear witness of Jesus. Everyone in earshot will believe Peter and receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:34–48). The way will be open for Paul's ministry in Syria, modern-day Asia Minor, Macedonia, Greece, and Italy.

Peter has been a dominant voice in the spread of Jesus' message to Jews and proselytes. Now he brings the gospel to Gentiles. An angel tells Cornelius, a centurion, to ask Peter to come to him. Peter is praying when he receives a vision of food—including non-kosher food—and God's voice telling him to eat. When the centurion's messengers arrive, Peter realizes the dream meant that Gentiles are no longer unclean. He follows the messengers and tells Cornelius' household about salvation through Jesus. Before Peter can lay his hands on them or baptize them, the Holy Spirit falls on them.

Jesus told the disciples they would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Oddly, the disciples didn't understand this meant the Holy Spirit would come upon Jews, Samaritans, and Gentiles alike. After several years reaching Jews and proselytes in Jerusalem (Acts 1—7) and Samaritans in Samaria (Acts 8:4–25), God calls Peter to bring the message to Gentiles. Peter's witness that Gentiles can be saved (Acts 11) clears the way for Paul's ministry to Gentiles in modern-day Turkey, Greece, and Italy (Acts 13—28).

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.