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 captures Peter's immediate and precise obedience to an angelic command during his miraculous prison escape. It details the simple, yet vital, actions he needed to take – "girding" his clothes and putting on his sandals – indicating readiness for movement and departure. These practical instructions underscore the reality of the deliverance, involving Peter's active participation even as supernatural events unfolded around him.

Acts 12 8 Context

Acts chapter 12 details a severe period of persecution against the early church by King Herod Agrippa I. He executed James, the brother of John, with the sword, which pleased the Jews, leading him to arrest Peter as well, intending to bring him to public trial after Passover. Peter was heavily guarded, secured by two chains between two soldiers, with sentries guarding the door. The church, however, was fervently praying for him. This verse occurs in the midst of Peter's miraculous liberation from this secure Roman prison. An angel suddenly appears, a light fills the cell, and the angel gives Peter specific instructions, starting with these practical actions, contrasting with the supernatural falling off of chains in the previous verse.

Acts 12 8 Word analysis

• And he said to him: This is a straightforward narrative conjunction and dialogue attribution, indicating a direct, verbal command from the angel to Peter. It emphasizes clarity and person-to-person instruction.

• 'Dress yourself': The Greek is ἀναζῶσον (anazōson), an imperative verb meaning "gird yourself up" or "belt up." In the ancient Near East, long tunics were typically worn. To prepare for vigorous activity, travel, or work, one would "gird up" their loins by drawing the tunic up between the legs and tucking it into the belt, shortening it to prevent stumbling. This instruction implies a state of immediate readiness and activity, not simply putting on clothes, but preparing for movement.

• and put on your sandals': The Greek is ὑποδήσαι (hypodēsai), an aorist imperative meaning "tie your sandals on" or "fasten your sandals." Prisoners were not typically dressed for travel, nor would they necessarily wear sandals within a cell. This is another practical instruction preparing Peter for walking out and for a journey, contrasting with a state of being confined. It highlights a very human, concrete step in a supernatural deliverance.

• And he did so.: This simple phrase conveys Peter's immediate, unquestioning, and complete obedience to the angel's commands. It demonstrates faith in action and is crucial for the successful progression of his escape. This ready compliance ensures the continuation of God's miraculous work.

• 'Dress yourself and put on your sandals.': These two instructions, given consecutively and immediately after Peter's chains fell off, represent a divine call to active, personal preparation for freedom. They bridge the gap between supernatural intervention (chains falling) and Peter's necessary human action. While the angel provides the miraculous framework, Peter is required to perform mundane, yet essential, steps for his physical exit. This combination underscores a principle where God's power often requires human participation and obedience, even in simple tasks. These preparations stand in stark contrast to his prisoner status, marking a complete shift to being ready for a journey.

Acts 12 8 Bonus section

The seemingly mundane nature of the instructions given by the angel emphasizes the tangible reality of Peter's escape. Unlike a mere vision or dream, these commands require physical action from Peter. This distinction between the purely supernatural aspects (light, chains falling, angel appearing) and Peter's active participation (girding, putting on sandals) lends credence to the historical event and signifies that Peter's deliverance was not an abstract experience but a physical one. This combination is a consistent pattern in God's interaction with humanity: divine intervention often invites human cooperation, empowering individuals to take practical steps guided by faith.

Acts 12 8 Commentary

Acts 12:8 reveals a remarkable intersection of divine power and human obedience. The angel's instructions to Peter – "gird yourself" and "put on your sandals" – are profoundly practical and signify readiness for active departure rather than passive reception of rescue. After the initial supernatural release from his chains, Peter is called to actively prepare himself. This highlights that while God orchestrates miracles, He often calls for our obedient participation in the process. Peter’s unhesitating compliance, despite the dream-like sequence of events, is crucial; it exemplifies faith responding to divine direction, making him an agent in his own divinely planned deliverance. This act of dressing and wearing sandals underscores that Peter is not merely being carried out but is to walk out freely, physically prepared for the next steps of his freedom.