Luke 5:8

8. Fell down at Jesus’ knees A profound reverence, as to a divine being. The very first word ever uttered by Jesus to Peter (John 1:42) revealed to him the Messianic power of discerning spirits; in the present miracle he acknowledges, with an overwhelming sensibility, the Lord’s mastery of the secrets of lower nature.

Depart from me Adverse criticism objects here that Peter’s behaviour and language are exaggerated and theatrical. Had he not before seen any of the numerous miracles which were now making the name of Jesus to resound through Galilee? And what was there in this miracle to excite such strong idea of his own sinfulness? We reply, that there need be no difficulty with those who do not reject in advance all special operations, not only of miraculous power, but of divine spiritual impression. To explain the passage by bringing it down to a level satisfactory to rationalism is to make rationalists of ourselves. It is to surrender the fortress, not to defend it.

Peter has left the boat and is standing on shore under the searching gaze of the Son of God. He has often seen the miracles of Jesus; but none has so directly touched his own person, and unequivocally meant, not the surrounding multitude, but himself. He saw and trembled as he felt, by a full divine impression, (Matthew 16:17,) that this was no prophet or angel, but God incarnate, the Son of God; who had just shown his lordship over nature animate and inanimate; his knowledge of the secrets of the deep. So Jacob trembled at finding out that he had wrestled with God. (Genesis 32:30.) So Manoah and his wife said, We shall surely die, for we have seen God. (Judges 13:22.) So Exodus 24:10-11; Exodus 33:20. Surely, that same knowledge and power that could pervade the depths of the sea, and cognize the movements of its inhabitants, could pervade the depths of his human heart and know its secret sins. In his hasty agony as an impure man, and not for any special crime or sin, he almost sinfully prays, not that his soul might be purified to endure the glance of the great Searcher, but that the Searcher would withdraw his eye and leave him, alas! in sin. And yet as, in spite of his hasty words, the spirit of a deep faith and love are in his heart, forming a base in the future of a most heroic Christianity, Jesus bears with him as often afterwards, and soon gives him a most inspiring Fear not.