Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
Gird thyself (zwsai). Direct middle first aorist (ingressive) imperative (Robertson, Grammar, pp. 806f.) from zwnnumi (zwnnuw). Old verb, but in the N.T. only here and John 21:18 (twice to Peter) where the active voice and the reflexive pronoun occur in the first example. The girdle was worn round the xitwn or undergarment.
Bind on (upodhsai). Indirect middle (by yourself or for yourself) first aorist imperative of upodew, to bind under, old verb, only three times in the N.T. (Mark 6:9; Acts 12:8; Ephesians 6:15 (middle)).
Sandals (sandalia). Persian word common from Herodotus on, a sole made of wood or leather covering the bottom of the foot and bound on with thongs. In the N.T. only here and Mark 6:9. In the LXX used indiscriminately with upodhma.
Cast about thee (peribalou). Second aorist middle (indirect) imperative of periballw, old and common verb to throw around, especially clothing around the body as here. The imation (outer garment) was put over the xitwn. It was not a hurried flight.
Follow me (akolouqei moi). Present (linear) active imperative, keep on following me (associative instrumental case).
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Acts 12:8:
Luke 12:35
John 21:18
Acts 12:8
Acts 12:9
Acts 21:11
Ephesians 6:15
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