Acts 10:26Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

What, then, does Peter do? "Stand up; I too am a man." Do you see how, before everything else, he teaches them not to think too highly of themselves?

By this he teaches the others and offers thanksgiving to God, showing his humility. See that before everything else he teaches them not to think highly of themselves in the least.

If Peter, being so great, did not allow that man to fall on his knees before him, making himself equal to Cornelius though Cornelius was still a Gentile, what must be said of other men?

Christ has become surety for us concerning repentance, and the one who abandons repentance rejects the Surety.

In regard to the active life, without repentance we cannot do anything worthy. Yet the Lord greatly shows mercy to us because of our intention.

The one who compels himself and holds fast to repentance until death, even if he sins in something, will be saved because he compelled himself. For the Lord promised this in the Gospel.

Whoever says that he has no need of repentance considers himself righteous, and in Scripture is called an evil offspring.

For through the opinion of his own righteousness, appearing as though he had already accomplished repentance, he unknowingly joins himself to pleasures instead of the Crucifixion.

Self-opinion and vainglorious pride are passions.

Peter, together with his companions, hastens to Cornelius in order to grant the Kingdom of Heaven and sanctify his house. He does not allow him to fall to his knees and worship him, nor does he permit honor to be paid, since he was accustomed to give the gifts of grace freely. From now on, renewed man, hold your head upright. You were formerly wounded by the first ancestor's tasting, but the font grants you new birth. Be reborn, and do not bend beneath the yoke of sins the neck freed from the ancestral sin.

While waiting for Peter, Cornelius gathered in his house his relatives and close friends, undoubtedly like him in piety and faith. He wished them also to hear the word of salvation.

When Peter approached his house, on the day after he had left Joppa, Cornelius met him while still outside the house.

With reverence he bowed down at his feet as before a heavenly messenger.

But Peter raised him up, saying: arise, I too am a man.

After entering Cornelius's house, Peter first explained to him and to the others present why he had permitted himself to come to them.

As was known to them, according to the law of his people, as it was then understood and interpreted, he ought not to enter into communion with Gentiles.

Yet he was now ready to meet the need for which they had called him.

On this basis the Stundists condemn the Orthodox for the veneration of the saints.

Yet the fact that Peter considered himself unworthy of veneration does not mean that he was in reality unworthy of it.

On the contrary, whoever humbles himself, whoever considers himself an unprofitable servant, thereby exalts himself, Mt 23:12.

We must honor the saints not according to what they think of themselves. Many of them considered themselves the foremost of sinners, as, for example, the Apostle Paul, 1 Tim 1:15.

Rather, we honor them according to the degree to which they surpass us and show us examples of faith and good works.

Besides humility, the Apostle Peter had a special reason to remind Cornelius that he too was a man.

He supposed that Cornelius, as a Gentile not yet enlightened by the light of the true faith, might consider him a divine person, cf. 14:11.

Having learned of the Apostle's approach, Cornelius went out to meet him and fell at his feet.

Peter immediately raised the pious soldier. Undoubtedly to the amazement of the brethren accompanying him, and perhaps even to his own amazement, he broke all the traditions of his life and the national customs of many centuries.

He entered into free conversation with a Gentile in the presence of the centurion's assembled relatives.

He did this not from forgetfulness caused by some special exaltation, but with full consciousness.

He knew that, in doing what until then had been considered impious, he was acting in accordance with divine revelation.

He bowed down, falling at his feet: he bowed at his feet, down to the ground.

As is clear from Peter's answer to this, it was not only the customary expression of honor and respect, especially in the East, shown in special cases to especially honored persons.

Something particular was expressed in this prostration.

Cornelius was probably not yet free from pagan ideas about incarnations of higher powers, or gods, in the form of great men.

Perhaps he considered Peter to be something higher than an ordinary man, a deified man.

Peter probably noticed this from something, or guessed it on the basis of the pagan beliefs known to him.

In turning aside such worship of himself, he briefly tells Cornelius that he, Peter, is also a man, the same as others.

The meeting of the Apostle Peter by Cornelius was very moving and solemn. While waiting for Peter, Cornelius called together his relatives and friends.

When Peter was approaching Cornelius's house, Cornelius went out to meet the Apostle, bowed to him, and fell at his feet.

This was the rendering of the greatest honor, such as was given to God. Therefore Peter hastened to raise him up.

Supposing that Cornelius had an exaggerated idea of him, cf. 14:11, he said to him: arise, I too am a man.

Later, deep bows before the dignitaries of the Church entered into custom. Yet the Apostle's example shows with what humility these bows should be received, but not demanded.

They are directed not to the persons of the dignitaries, but to Him whose representatives they serve.