Bede : Gird yourself and put on your sandals. And we read that prophets and apostles used belts, which Peter had loosened for a moment due to the rigidity of the prison, so that, with his tunic lowered around his feet, he could somewhat temper the cold of the night, providing an example to the weak that, when we are tempted by either bodily discomfort or human injury, it is permissible to relax the rigor of our purpose a little. And because it was said, "Let your loins be girded and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace," spiritually he is ordered to resume the emblems of virtues and of preaching the word. — Commentary on Acts Bede : Gird yourself, and put on your boots. Instead of boots or sandals, as some manuscripts have, in Greek it says sandals. We read in the Gospel that a type of footwear was permitted to the apostles, not without a symbolic mystical sense. For the apostles' feet were covered neither entirely nor bare to the ground, so they would be reminded that the Gospel is neither to be concealed nor devoted to earthly comforts, so it may be as it is written: How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news! — Retractions on Acts John Chrysostom : And the angel said to him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. Here again it shows, that it was not done of craft: for one that is in haste and wishes to break out of prison, is not so particular as to take his sandals, and gird himself. And he did so. And he said unto him, Put on thy cloak, and follow me. — Homily on Acts 26 John Chrysostom : "Rise," says he, "quickly:" this is not to hurry him but to persuade him not to delay. And immediately his chains fell off from his hands. How? answer me: where are the heretics? - let them answer. And the Angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals: by this also convincing him that it is no fancy: to this end he bids him gird himself and put on his shoes, that he may shake off his sleep, and know that it is real. — Homily on Acts 26 Oecumenius : The Lord having said to the disciples, "Do not acquire gold nor silver, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a belt, nor a staff," (Matt. 10:9-10, Mark 6:8, Luke 9:3) how did Peter act contrary to the command, having garments and a belt and sandals? Moreover, whenever Paul gives a charge writing to Timothy, "Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, bring when you come," (2 Tim. 4:13) behold he had a cloak, and one could not say that he had not another which he wore. Did he then disobey Christ? What then is the matter? Those commands were for a time, and not for always. And that this is true the evangelist Luke bears witness. For he says that Christ spoke to the disciples: "When I sent you without moneybag, and pouch, and belt, and sandals, did you lack anything?" (Luke 22:35) They say to him, "No." He says to them: So then acquire it. But for what purpose did he command this at that time? Wishing to show his power. If then Paul needed to have one tunic, if he needed to be washed, ought he to have been kept at home naked, or to go about naked and behave shamefully when necessity required? It was therefore not necessary that Paul, while accomplishing so many exploits and traveling the inhabited world, remain at home lacking in clothing, and be hindered by such matters. But what if a severe cold set in, and it rained on him or froze him? How could the tunic he wore have been dried? Or should he again have sat naked? And what if the cold contracted his body, it was necessary that he melt and not speak? And what could be more grievous than this? For their bodies were not made of diamonds. What then? Must he be destroyed? By no means. This, however, as has been said, he ordered at that time, wishing to show his power, that they would lack none of the necessities. [CHRYSOSTOM] — Commentary on Acts