قَالُوا مَا أَنتُمْ إِلاَّ بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُنَا ...

They said: "You are only human beings like ourselves...''

means, `so how could you receive revelation when you are human beings and we are human beings, so why do we not receive revelation like you If you are Messengers, you should be angels.'

This is like what many of the nations said who disbelieved, as Allah has told us in the Ayah:

ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُ كَانَت تَّأْتِيهِمْ رُسُلُهُم بِالْبَيِّنَـتِ فَقَالُواْ أَبَشَرٌ يَهْدُونَنَا

That was because there came to them their Messengers with clear proofs, but they said: "Shall mere men guide us!'' (64: 6)

meaning that they were amazed by that and they denied it.

And Allah says:

قَالُواْ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلاَّ بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُنَا تُرِيدُونَ أَن تَصُدُّونَا عَمَّا كَانَ يَعْبُدُ ءَابَآؤُنَا فَأْتُونَا بِسُلْطَـنٍ مُّبِينٍ

They said: "You are no more than human beings like us! You wish to turn us away from what our fathers used to worship. Then bring us a clear authority.'' (14:10)

And Allah tells us that they said:

وَلَئِنْ أَطَعْتُمْ بَشَراً مِّثْلَكُمْ إِنَّكُمْ إِذاً لَّخَـسِرُونَ

"If you were to obey a human being like yourselves, then verily, you indeed would be losers.'' (23:34)

And Allah says:

وَمَا مَنَعَ النَّاسَ أَن يُؤْمِنُواْ إِذْ جَآءَهُمُ الْهُدَى إِلاَّ أَن قَالُواْ أَبَعَثَ اللَّهُ بَشَرًا رَّسُولاً

And nothing prevented men from believing when the guidance came to them, except that they said: "Has Allah sent a man as (His) Messenger!'' (17:94)

These people said:

قَالُوا مَا أَنتُمْ إِلاَّ بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُنَا وَمَا أَنزَلَ الرَّحْمن مِن شَيْءٍ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلاَّ تَكْذِبُونَ ﴿١٥﴾

قَالُوا رَبُّنَا يَعْلَمُ إِنَّا إِلَيْكُمْ لَمُرْسَلُونَ ﴿١٦﴾

You are only human beings like ourselves, and the Most Gracious has revealed nothing. You are only telling lies.''

The Messengers said: "Our Lord knows that we have been sent as Messengers to you.''

This means that the three Messengers answered them saying:

"Allah knows that we are His Messengers to you. If we were lying, He would have taken the utmost vengeance against us, but He will cause us to prevail and will make us victorious against you, and you will come to know whose will be the happy end in the Hereafter.''

This is like the Ayah:

قُلْ كَفَى بِاللَّهِ بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَكُمْ شَهِيداً يَعْلَمُ مَا فِى السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ وَالَّذِينَ ءامَنُواْ بِالْبَـطِلِ وَكَفَرُواْ بِاللَّهِ أُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْخَـسِرُونَ

Say:

"Sufficient is Allah for a witness between me and you. He knows what is in the heavens and on earth.''

And those who believe in falsehood, and disbelieve in Allah, it is they who are the losers. (29:52)