Acts 10 · Verse 25

Acts 10:25

And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
Acts 10:25, King James Version

Acts 10:25 in other translations

BSBAs Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet to worship him.
WEBWhen Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet, and worshiped him.
ASVAnd when it came to pass that Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
YLTand as it came that Peter entered in, Cornelius having met him, having fallen at his feet, did bow before him;
DARBYAnd when Peter was now coming in, Cornelius met him, and falling down did him homage.
BBEAnd when Peter came in, Cornelius came to him and, falling down at his feet, gave him worship.
WebsterAnd as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshiped him.

What does Acts 10:25 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 10:25-29
25-29. as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him--a mark of the highest respect. fell down at his feet, and worshipped him--In the East this way of showing respect was customary not only to kings, but to others occupying a superior station; but among the Greeks and Romans it was reserved for the gods. Peter, therefore, declines it as due to no mortal [Grotius]. "Those who claim to have succeeded Peter, have not imitated this part of his conduct" [Alford] (therein only verifying 2Th 2:4, and compare Re 19:10; 22:9).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 25. Fell down at his feet. This was an act of profound regard for him as an ambassador of God. In Oriental countries it was usual to prostrate themselves at length on the ground before men of rank and honour.

Worshipped him. This does not mean religious grinage, but civil respect; the homage, or profound regard, which was due to one in honour. Mt 2:2.

(+) "worshipped him" "Did obeisance"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 25 Fell down at his feet, and worshipped him - As Peter's coming was announced by an angel, Cornelius might have supposed that Peter himself was an angel, and of a superior order; seeing he came to announce what the first angel was not employed to declare: it was, probably, in consequence of this thought that he prostrated himself before Peter, offering him the highest act of civil respect; for there was nothing in the act, as performed by Cornelius, which belonged to the worship of the true God. Prostrations to superiors were common in all Asiatic countries. The Codex Bezae, and the later Syriac in the margin reads this verse differently from all other MSS. and versions; thus, But as Peter drew nigh to Caesarea, one of the servants ran before, and told that he was come: then Cornelius leaped up, and met him, and, falling at his feet, he worshipped him. This is a very remarkable addition, and relates circumstances that we may naturally suppose did actually take place.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 10:19-33

When we see our call clear to any service, we should not be perplexed with doubts and scruples arising from prejudices or former ideas. Cornelius had called together his friends, to partake with him of the heavenly wisdom he expected from Peter. We should not covet to eat our spiritual morsels alone. It ought to be both given and taken as kindness and respect to our kindred and friends, to invite them to join us in…

Read the full comment on Acts 10:19-33 →

Acts 10:25 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὡςhōsasG5613
δὲdethenG1161
ἐγένετοegenetowasG1096
τοῦtou<the>G3588
εἰσελθεῖνeiseltheinenteringG1525
τὸνton<the>G3588
Πέτρον,PetronPeter,G4074
συναντήσαςsunantēsashaving metG4876
αὐτῷautōwith himG846
ὁho<the>G3588
ΚορνήλιοςKornēliosCorneliusG2883
πεσὼνpesōnhaving fallenG4098
ἐπὶepiatG1909
τοὺςtoustheG3588
πόδαςpodasfeetG4228
προσεκύνησεν.prosekunēsenworshiped [him].G4352

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 10:25

  • Revelation 19:10

    And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

  • Revelation 22:8-9

    And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

  • Matthew 8:2

    And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

  • Daniel 2:46

    Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him.

  • Acts 14:11-13

    And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.

  • Daniel 2:30

    But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.

  • Matthew 14:33

    Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
and fell.
14:11-13; Da 2:30,46; Mt 8:2; 14:33; Re 19:10; 22:8,9

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 10:24

    And the morrow after they entered into Cesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.

  • Acts 10:25

    And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.

  • Acts 10:26

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

Read all of Acts 10

Acts 10:25 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y como Pedro entró, salió Cornelio á recibirle; y derribándose á sus pies, adoró.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et comme il arrivait que Pierre entrait, Corneille allant au-devant de lui se jeta à ses pieds et lui rendit hommage.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Als es aber geschah, daß Petrus hereinkam, ging Kornelius ihm entgegen, fiel ihm zu Füßen und huldigte ihm.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et factum est cum introisset Petrus, obvius venit ei Cornelius, et procidens ad pedes ejus adoravit.