Acts 12:8
What does Acts 12:8 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 12:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 12:8 means
The angel directs Peter in ordinary tasks: dress, put on sandals, wrap your garment, and follow. Even in miracles, God dignifies human responsibility. Peter must rise, get ready, and walk. The instruction to “follow me” frames the entire rescue as a guided deliverance, not an impersonal event. God’s care attends to small details; the Lord does not merely break chains but equips His servant to leave well. This simple obedience is faith expressed in steps—Peter acts on God’s word while still unsure of what is happening. The verse shows how divine power and human response work together without confusion.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And he did so. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And he did so. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Then the angel said, Put on your shoes and get ready to go. And he did so. And he said, Put your coat round you and come with me.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862The messenger also said to him, `Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals;' and he did so; and he saith to him, `Put thy garment round and be following me;'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And the angel said to him: Gird thyself and put on thy sandals. And he did so. And he said to him: Cast thy garment about thee and follow me,
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And the angel said to him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And he did so. And he says to him, Cast thine upper garment about thee and follow me.
Context
After the dramatic display of power in verse 7, this verse focuses on Peter’s active participation. The miracle is not a blur; it moves through deliberate, practical moments. The sequence prepares for Peter’s continued following in verse 9, where he will still think he is seeing a vision. The reader is drawn into the rhythm of command and compliance, heightening anticipation as they approach the guarded exits and the city gate in the next verse.
v.7And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shined in the cell: and he smote Peter on the side, and awoke him, saying, Rise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
v.8This passage
v.9And he went out, and followed; and he knew not that it was true which was done by the angel, but thought he saw a vision.
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