634. apopiptó
Lexical Summary
apopiptó: To fall away, to fall off

Original Word: ἀποπίπτω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: apopiptó
Pronunciation: ah-po-PEEP-to
Phonetic Spelling: (ap-op-ip'-to)
KJV: fall
NASB: fell
Word Origin: [from G575 (ἀπό - since) and G4098 (πίπτω - fell)]

1. to fall off

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
fall.

From apo and pipto; to fall off -- fall.

see GREEK apo

see GREEK pipto

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from apo and piptó
Definition
to fall off
NASB Translation
fell (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 634: ἀποπίπτω

ἀποπίπτω: 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).
2. Regeneration. Saul’s physical sight parallels the opening of his heart (2 Corinthians 4:6). The same God who commanded light at creation now “has shone in our hearts.”
3. Revelation of Christ. Ananias’ ministry fulfills the promise that Saul would “see the Righteous One” (Acts 22:14). When the scales drop, the once-blinded persecutor beholds the very glory he had opposed.
4. Covenant Transformation. The instantaneous fall contrasts the gradual fading of Mosaic glory (2 Corinthians 3:14-16). Turning to the Lord removes the veil.

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.
• Baptism and Immediate Service: Sight restored, Saul “got up and was baptized,” then “began to proclaim Jesus” (Acts 9:18-20). New believers are to move quickly from illumination to identification and proclamation.
• Hope for the Hard-hearted: If scales can fall from a persecutor, no heart is beyond reach (1 Timothy 1:15-16).

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 apépesan
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Acts 9:18 V-AIA-3P
GRK: καὶ εὐθέως ἀπέπεσαν αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ
NAS: And immediately there fell from his eyes
KJV: And immediately there fell from his
INT: And immediately fell of him from

Strong's Greek 634
1 Occurrence


ἀπέπεσαν — 1 Occ.

633
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