Acts 12 8

Acts 12:8 kjv

And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.

Acts 12:8 nkjv

Then the angel said to him, "Gird yourself and tie on your sandals"; and so he did. And he said to him, "Put on your garment and follow me."

Acts 12:8 niv

Then the angel said to him, "Put on your clothes and sandals." And Peter did so. "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me," the angel told him.

Acts 12:8 esv

And the angel said to him, "Dress yourself and put on your sandals." And he did so. And he said to him, "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me."

Acts 12:8 nlt

Then the angel told him, "Get dressed and put on your sandals." And he did. "Now put on your coat and follow me," the angel ordered.

Acts 12 verses

Acts 12 8 Meaning

This verse describes a divine intervention where Peter is freed from prison by an angel of the Lord. It signifies God's power over earthly authorities and His protection of His servants, specifically highlighting the miraculous deliverance of Peter from death and imprisonment, echoing themes of rescue found throughout Scripture.

Acts 12 8 Context

Acts chapter 12 describes the persecution of the early church in Jerusalem under King Herod Agrippa I. Herod had James, John's brother, executed with a sword and, seeing that this pleased the Jews, proceeded to arrest Peter with the intention of executing him after the Passover feast. This verse occurs during Peter's imprisonment. The previous verse mentions the church praying incessantly for Peter. The following verses will describe Peter's subsequent encounter with the astonished believers. This context highlights the desperate situation Peter was in and the fervent prayers of the church, setting the stage for a miraculous deliverance.

Acts 12 8 Word Analysis

• “Now” ( δὲ - de): A conjunction, often adversative or conjunctive, serving to link this event to the previous ones, indicating a shift or continuation in the narrative.

• “Peter” (Πέτρος - Petros): The name given to Simon by Jesus, meaning "rock" or "stone." This emphasizes his foundational role in the early church, even as he faces physical peril.

• “was outside” (ἔξω - exō): Literally "outside," implying separation from the place of confinement.

• “the prison” (τῆς φυλακῆς - tēs phylakēs): The noun for "prison" or "guard," signifying his captivity.

• “but” (δὲ - de): Another conjunctive particle, continuing the thought.

• “he” (αὐτός - autos): Referring back to Peter.

• “was” (ἦν - ēn): The imperfect tense of "to be," suggesting a continuing state or action, though here it functions more to connect "he" with the following descriptive phrase.

• “asking” (αἰτῶν - aitōn): Present participle of αἰτέω (aiteō), meaning "to ask for," "request," or "beg." This word can imply earnest or repeated asking.

• “what” (τί - ti): An interrogative pronoun.

• “was happening” (γένοιτο ἂν - genoito an): This phrase literally means "might come to pass" or "could happen." It indicates an uncertain or prospective event. Peter is inquiring about the outcome or the current state of affairs concerning his own situation and perhaps the situation of the church.

• “to him” (αὐτῷ - autō): Dative case, indicating the recipient of the asking.

• Word-group analysis:

  • “Now Peter was outside the prison” (Then Peter was outside the prison): This succinctly states the immediate, miraculous change in Peter’s location from imprisonment to freedom.
  • “but he was asking what was happening to him” (but he was asking what could happen to him/was happening to him): This part is striking. Despite being miraculously freed from chains and a guarded cell, Peter's immediate response isn't overwhelming joy or shouting. Instead, he seems disoriented, questioning the reality of his situation. This suggests the divine intervention was so profound he was momentarily dazed or disbelieving, a common human reaction to inexplicable events, and it reflects his immediate concern for what would transpire next, showing his ongoing awareness of his precarious situation.

Acts 12 8 Bonus Section

The disoriented state of Peter upon realizing his freedom echoes similar reactions to overwhelming divine encounters in Scripture. For example, John the Baptist in Revelation 1:17 falls down as though dead before the risen Christ, and Isaiah falls prostrate at the vision of God in Isaiah 6. Peter’s questioning “what was happening to him” is a human response to the uncanny, a moment where the impossible has become reality, leaving one to question their own senses and understanding. It emphasizes that miraculous events often disrupt ordinary human perception and require a processing period, even for those deeply in faith like Peter. This humility in the face of God’s power is a recurring theme, demonstrating that reliance on God often involves stepping beyond immediate human comprehension.

Acts 12 8 Commentary

This verse captures a moment of surreal disbelief immediately following a supernatural escape. Peter, moments ago heavily guarded and facing execution, finds himself free but disoriented. His first reaction isn't exultation but a dazed inquiry about his current state. This shows the profound impact of the angelic intervention, which was so overwhelming that Peter questioned its reality. It highlights that even those used mightily by God can be struck by awe and uncertainty when witnessing direct divine action. His asking "what was happening" reveals his cognitive processing catching up to the miraculous reality, rather than an immediate emotional outburst.