Acts 12:8

12:8 The angel said to him, “Fasten your belt ¹  and put on your sandals.” Peter ²  did so. Then the angel ³  said to him, “Put on your cloak ⁴  and follow me.”

Acts 15:31

15:31 When they read it aloud, ⁵  the people ⁶  rejoiced at its encouragement. ⁷ 

Acts 16:8

16:8 so they passed through ⁸  Mysia ⁹  and went down to Troas. ¹⁰ 

Acts 21:22

21:22 What then should we do? They will no doubt ¹¹  hear that you have come.

[12:8]  ¹ tn While ζώννυμι (zwnnumi) sometimes means “to dress,” referring to the fastening of the belt or sash as the final act of getting dressed, in this context it probably does mean “put on your belt” since in the conditions of a prison Peter had probably not changed into a different set of clothes to sleep. More likely he had merely removed his belt or sash, which the angel now told him to replace. The translation “put on your belt” is given by L&N 49.14 for this verse. The archaic English “girdle” for the sash or belt has an entirely different meaning today.

[12:8]  ² tn Grk “He”; the referent (Peter) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[12:8]  ³ tn Grk “he”; the referent (the angel) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[12:8]  ⁴ tn Or “outer garment.”

[15:31]  ⁵ tn Grk “read it.” The translation “read aloud” is used to indicate the actual practice of public reading; translating as “read” could be misunderstood to mean private, silent, or individual reading.

[15:31]  ⁶ tn Grk “they”; the referent (the people) is specified in the translation for clarity.

[15:31]  ⁷ tn Or “at its encouraging message.”

[16:8]  ⁹ tn Although the normal meaning for παρέρχομαι (parercomai) is “pass by, go by,” it would be difficult to get to Troas from where Paul and his companions were without going through rather than around Mysia. BDAG 776 s.v. παρέρχομαι 6 list some nonbiblical examples of the meaning “go through, pass through,” and give that meaning for the usage here.

[16:8]  ¹⁰ sn Mysia was a province in northwest Asia Minor.

[16:8]  ¹¹ sn Troas was a port city (and surrounding region) on the northwest coast of Asia Minor, near ancient Troy.

[21:22]  ¹³ tn L&N 71.16 has “pertaining to being in every respect certain – ‘certainly, really, doubtless, no doubt.’…‘they will no doubt hear that you have come’ Ac 21:22.”