Acts 12:8

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.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(8) Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals.—In lying down to sleep the Apostle had naturally laid aside his “cloak,” loosened the girdle that bound his tunic, and put off his sandals. As regards the latter we note his continued observance of the rule of Mark 6:9.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

12:6-11 A peaceful conscience, a lively hope, and the consolations of the Holy Spirit, can keep men calm in the full prospect of death; even those very persons who have been most distracted with terrors on that account. God's time to help, is when things are brought to the last extremity. Peter was assured that the Lord would cause this trial to end in the way that should be most for his glory. Those who are delivered out of spiritual imprisonment must follow their Deliverer, like the Israelites when they went out of the house of bondage. They knew not whither they went, but knew whom they followed. When God will work salvation for his people, all difficulties in their way will be overcome, even gates of iron are made to open of their own accord. This deliverance of Peter represents our redemption by Christ, which not only proclaims liberty to the captives, but brings them out of the prison-house. Peter, when he recollected himself, perceived what great things God had done for him. Thus souls delivered out of spiritual bondage, are not at first aware what God has wrought in them; many have the truth of grace, that want evidence of it. But when the Comforter comes, whom the Father will send, sooner or later, he will let them know what a blessed change is wrought.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Gird thyself - When they slept the outer garment was thrown off, and the girdle with which they bound their inner garment, or tunic, was loosed. He was directed now to gird up that inner garment as they usually wore it; that is, to dress himself, and prepare to follow him.

Bind on thy sandals - Put on thy sandals; prepare to walk. See the notes on Matthew 3:11.

Cast thy garment about thee - The outer garment, that was thrown loosely around the shoulders. It was nearly square, and was laid aside when they slept, or worked, or ran. The direction was that he should dress himself in his usual apparel. See the notes on Matthew 5:38-42.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

8. about thee … follow me—In such graphic minuteness of detail we have a charming mark of reality: while the rapidity and curtness of the orders, and the promptitude with which they were obeyed, betoken the despatch which, in the circumstances, was necessary.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Gird thyself; the custom being to wear long garments, they were not so fit to go about any business until they had girt their garments to them; hence Jeremiah is commanded to get a girdle about him, Jeremiah 13:1, when he was to be sent on God’s errand. The sandals were little other than sole leathers, bound or fastened with thongs.

Thy garment; the uppermost vest, answerable to a cloak amongst us. God furnishes his people thus with necessaries, and he will have them use them, so far as they are able to serve them, even then when he is working of miracles for their deliverances.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And the angel said unto him, gird thyself,.... He slept in his inner garment loose about him; wherefore the angel bids him gird it up with his girdle, and prepare to walk out after him:

and bind on thy sandals; which were a sort of shoes that covered only the soles of the feet, and were fastened to the leg, with strings:

and so he did; he did not ask any question, or the reason of these orders; he did not dispute the matter, but at once obeyed:

and he saith unto him, cast thy garment about thee; meaning his upper garment, or cloak, which lay by him:

and follow me; suggesting hereby, that he should take care of him, and show him his way, and bring him safe out of the prison.

Geneva Study Bible

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.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Acts 12:8. περίζωσαι, but simple verb in R.V., W.H[250], Weiss, Wendt; bind thy tunic with a girdle: during the night the long flowing undergarment was loosened, but fastened up by day, so as not to impede the movements. Wetstein, Weiss, Page, and others contrast Hor., Sat., i., 2, 132. “Colligit sarcinulas nec festinat” (Wetstein), simple verb only twice elsewhere in N.T., and there also of St. Peter, cf. John 21:18.—σανδάλιά: Mark 6:9, elsewhere ὑποδήματα. St. Peter still observed his Master’s rule to be shod with sandals (Mark, u. s.), i.e., the shoes of the poor as distinguished from those of the more wealthy: dim. of σάνδαλον, a wooden sole. In LXX cf. Joshua 9:5, Isaiah 20:2; in Jdt 10:4; Jdt 16:9, of the sandals of the richer class.—περιβαλοῦ, only here in Acts; Luke 12:27; Luke 23:2, often elsewhere in N.T., and in LXX.—τὸ ἱμάτιον: the outer garment worn over the χιτών, and laid aside at night with the sandals. Lumby compares Didache 1, i., 4. Mark the distinction between the aorist and present tense, περίζωσαι … ὑπόδ.… περιβ., but ἀκολούθει (cf. John 2:16). “Præsens propter finem non indicatum” Blass; Simcox, Language of N. T., p. 114.

[250] Westcott and Hort’s The New Testament in Greek: Critical Text and Notes.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

8. Gird thyself] A binding up of the loose Oriental robe, so as to be fit for expeditious movement. Thus the Passover was to be eaten (Exodus 12:11) as if by persons prepared to depart at once. So Gehazi was bidden (2 Kings 4:29) to make himself ready for his journey to the house of the Shunammite.

Cast thy garment about thee] The Greek word signifies the outer dress as distinguished from the under tunic.

Bengel's Gnomen

Acts 12:8. Εἶπε, said) It was not the angel himself who clothed Peter; for there was no need. Decorum was observed.—περίζωσαι, gird thyself around) His girdle, sandals, and garment, either Peter himself had laid aside when going to sleep, or else the guards had taken away: now he is ordered to put them on. Still Peter had his time for walking uninterfered with (at his disposal): John 21:18, “(περιεπάτεις) whither thou wouldest; but when thou shalt be old,—another shall grid thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.”

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 8. - He did so for so he did, A.V. Thy garment (ἱμάτιον); especially the outer garment, which was worn over the χιτὼν, or tunic (see Matthew 9:20, 21; Matthew 14:36; Matthew 23:5, etc.). The girding, therefore, applied to the inner garments, and περιβαλοῦ το the cloak which went over them. Acts 12:8

Vincent's Word Studies

Garment (ἱμάτιον)

The outer garment, or mantle. See on Matthew 5:40.