What does Acts 12:8 mean?
Peter has been sleeping in prison. His execution is scheduled for the next day. James has already been beheaded (Acts 12:1–2). The only suggestion Peter has that he may not die is Jesus' prophecy that he will be "old" (John 21:18–19), but Jesus didn't clarify how old was "old."When an angel awakens him and his chains fall off, Peter is likely dazed. In fact, he thinks it's a vision or a dream (Acts 12:9). During the vision of the sheet that lowered from heaven filled with animals and the voice that told Peter to kill and eat, he didn't actually act on the command (Acts 10:9–16). This time, the angel has to tell him exactly what to do: dress for fight or flight. Or, more literally, "get dressed for action."
"Dress yourself" is literally "fasten your belt." This is a common turn of phrase found in many languages: where a part of the whole, here the last part, infers the entire action. In this case, Peter was probably wearing everything but his belt and outer robe, so the command is literal.
The Greek root word for "wrap" is periballō and is sometimes translated "gird." For a man of that era to "gird" himself meant to arrange the hem of his tunic, which could sometimes be ankle-length, so it doesn't get in the way. The man would gather the cloth up to mid-thigh and pull the bulk into a kind of tail in front of him. The tail would go between his legs. He'd then divide the tail into to two portions behind him and draw the tails around the outsides of his thighs where he would tie them in the front or tuck them into his wide belt. He'd then be ready for anything that required running or strenuous movement such as labor or fighting. Symbolically, to "gird one's loins" means to get ready. The guards are coming to take Peter to his execution; he needs to move.
Acts 12:6–11 describes Peter's angelic rescue from a Roman prison. Herod Agrippa I arrested and killed the apostle James, brother of John. When he realized how much local religious leaders approved, he arrested Peter with plans to kill him after the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The church has been praying, however, and Peter's ministry is not over. God answers their prayer by sending an angel to rescue him from prison. Peter will stop by and update members of the church and then go into hiding. We won't see him again until the meeting of church leaders in Acts 15.
Acts 12 starts with the first death of an apostle and ends with the death of a king. Herod Agrippa I beheads James and imprisons Peter. An angel rescues Peter and he quickly lets the church in Jerusalem know before he goes into hiding. Agrippa, grandson of Herod the Great and friend to the Pharisees, accepts glory due only to God and dies, likely a few days later, of internal worms. Meanwhile, the church continues to grow, and Barnabas and Saul return to Syrian Antioch. The scene is set for Paul's extensive ministry to the Gentiles.
