Lexical Summary apopiptó: To fall away, to fall off Original Word: ἀποπίπτω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance fall. From apo and pipto; to fall off -- fall. see GREEK apo see GREEK pipto NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom apo and piptó Definition to fall off NASB Translation fell (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 634: ἀποπίπτωἀποπίπτω: 2 aorist ἀπέπεσον; ((cf. πίπτω); from Homer down); to fall off, slip down from: Acts 9:18 (Winer's Grammar, § 52, 4, 1 a.). Topical Lexicon Root and Imagery To “fall off” or “drop away” pictures a decisive, complete removal of an obstacle. In Scripture the image regularly accompanies divine intervention: walls collapse (Joshua 6:20), shackles fall (Acts 12:7), chains drop (Acts 16:26). In Acts 9:18 the barrier is neither masonry nor iron but spiritual blindness embodied in “something like scales.” Biblical Usage in Acts 9:18 “Immediately something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again” (Acts 9:18). Luke records only one New Testament occurrence of ἀπέπεσαν, yet its solitary appearance crowns the Damascus-road narrative. God answers Saul’s three-day darkness with sight, baptism, and Spirit-filled commissioning (Acts 9:17-20). The falling away signals the instant, sovereign reversal of Saul’s condition and mission. Theological Significance: Spiritual Blindness and Sight 1. Removal of Judgment. Blindness in Scripture often represents divine judgment (Deuteronomy 28:28; John 9:39-41). The scales’ departure confirms that in Christ judgment is lifted (Romans 8:1). Historical Context: Saul’s Damascus Encounter Saul left Jerusalem armed with letters (Acts 9:2); he re-enters ministry bearing epistles of grace (2 Corinthians 3:3). Luke’s medical precision (“something like scales”) highlights a factual event witnessed by Ananias and validated by subsequent preaching. This transition point reshaped early Christian history, opening Gentile mission fields and yielding most of the New Testament epistles. Ministry Application • Prayer and Laying on of Hands: God used a reluctant disciple to facilitate the miracle (Acts 9:10-17). Modern ministry likewise joins divine sovereignty with human obedience. Related Concepts and Scriptures Blindness removed: Luke 24:31; Isaiah 35:5. Veil lifted: 2 Corinthians 3:14-18. Eyes enlightened: Ephesians 1:18. Falling shackles: Acts 12:7; Acts 16:26 (parallel imagery). Conclusion Strong’s Greek 634 depicts more than a physical act; it marks the watershed between darkness and light, persecution and apostleship. The scales that fell from Saul’s eyes testify that when God speaks, every barrier—visible or unseen—must drop away. Forms and Transliterations απεπεσαν ἀπέπεσαν απέπεσον απέπιπτεν αποπεσάτωσαν αποπέσοι αποπέσοιμι αποπεσούνται αποπεσών αποπίπτοντα apepesan apépesanLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |