The apostles are no longer living and no longer among us, but imagine for a moment that the apostle Peter or the apostle Paul came back for a brief visit to “see how things were going.” How would you react if you met him? How do you think the average “religious person” would react if they met face-to-face? We do not have to imagine very hard or try to speculate. In Acts 10, when Cornelius met Peter, “he fell down at his feet and worshiped him” (10:25). In Acts 14, idolaters were “intending to sacrifice” unto Paul and Barnabas (14:13).
Now, notice the reactions of these apostles. Peter lifted Cornelius up and said, “Stand up; I myself am also a man” (10:26). Paul and Barnabas tore their clothes and said, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you…” (14:15). The apostles were not interested in nor would they allow men to bow before them, worship them or honor them. (Read also Revelation 22:8-9, where an angel would not accept such either.)
God alone, not any man, is the one who deserves our homage and worship (Matt. 4:10)!