But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up: I myself also am a man. In the East this way of showing respect wee customary not only to kings but to others of superior station; but among the Greeks and Romans (as Grotius says) it was reserved for the gods. Not that we have the smallest reason to suppose that Cornelius meant to pay divine honours to Peter by this attitude; but the apostle regarded it as an act of religious homage, which his own insignificance as a mere mortal instrument, divinely chosen to open the door of faith to this centurion, would not endure. Alford justly remarks, that 'those who claim to have succeeded Peter have not imitated this part of his conduct.' But this only verifies 2 Thessalonians 2:4 (compare Revelation 19:10; Revelation 22:9).