Acts 9:18
in Acts 9At that instant, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and his sight was restored. He got up and was baptized,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And straightway there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight; and he arose and was baptized;
KJV
And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
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This verse in Acts 9
Commentary
12 notes on this verseThere fell from his eyes as it had been scales - This was real: he had been so dazzled with the brightness of the light that we may suppose the globe of the eye, and particularly the cornea, had suffered considerable injury. The structure of the cornea was doubtless much disturbed, and the whole of that humor would be rendered opaque, and incapable of permitting the rays of light to pass through the different humours to the retina, where all the images of things transmitted through the lenses, or humours, are distinctly painted.
This site's exposition
So Ananias went to the house
on Acts 9:17-18
Ananias placed his hands on Saul and greets the man he had feared as Brother Saul. At that instant, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and his sight was restored, and he rose and was baptized.
This site's exposition
something like scales fell
Clarke explains the scales as real damage to the eye from the brilliant light. Jamieson, Fausset & Brown hold that both the blindness and its cure were supernatural.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Scales fell away, showing the sharpness of the blindness, and the undeniability of the healing.
"And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales." Some say this was a sign of his blindness. Why did he not blind his eyes entirely? This was more wonderful, that, with his eyes open, he did not see: which was just his case in respect of the Law, until the Name of Jesus was put on him. With hands laid on, he spake these words. "And immediately there fell from his eyes," etc.: a double blindness is removed.
The Medieval Church2 voices
And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes. It is said that the entire body of the dragon is covered with scales. Because the Jews are called serpents and brood of vipers, those who followed their perfidy had covered the eyes of their heart …
"And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes." The scales fall off and show that the inflammation was severe and that the healing is beyond doubt.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
(2.) In Saul's subjection to Christ: He was baptized, and thereby submitted to the government of Christ, and cast himself upon the grace of Christ. Thus he was entered into Christ's school, hired into his family, enlisted under his banner, and joined himself to him for better for worse. The point was gained: it is settled;
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And immediately there fell from his eyes, as it had been scales,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Ananias went his way, and putting his hands on him, said, Brother Saul--How beautifully childlike is the obedience of Ananias to "the heavenly vision!" the Lord, even Jesus--This clearly shows in what sense the term "Lord" is used in this book.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
there fell from his eyes as it were scales--"This shows that the blindness as well as the cure was supernatural. Substances like scales would not form naturally in so short a time" [WEBSTER and WILKINSON]. And the medical precision of Luke's language here is to be noted. was baptized--as directed by Ananias (Ac 22:16).
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
As it had been scales - ὡσεὶ λεπίδες hōsei lepides. The word ὡσεὶ hōsei, “as it had been,” is designed to qualify the following word. It is not said that scales literally fell from his eyes, but that an effect followed as if scales had been suddenly taken off. Evidently, the expression is deigned to mean no more than this. The effect was such as would take place if some dark, imperious substance had been placed before the eyes, and had been suddenly removed. The cure was as sudden, the restoration to sight was as immediate, as if such an interposing substance had been suddenly removed. This is all that the expression fairly implies, and this is all that the nature of the case demands. As the blindness had been caused by the natural effect of the light, probably on the optic nerve (Act 9:8-9, note), it is manifest that no literal removing of scales would restore the vision. We are therefore to lay aside the idea of literal scales falling to the earth. No such thing is affirmed, and no such thing would have met the case. The word translated “scales” is used nowhere else in the New Testament. It means properly “the small crust or layer which composes a part of the covering of a fish, and also any thin layer or leaf exfoliated or separated, as scales of iron, bone, or a piece of bark, etc.” (Webster). An effect similar to this is described in Tobit 11:8, 13. It is evident that there was a miracle in the healing of Saul. The “blindness” was the natural effect of the light. The “cure” was by miraculous power. This is evident: (1) Because there were no means used that would naturally restore the sight. It may be remarked here that “gutta serena” has been regarded by physicians as one of the most incurable of diseases. […]
The words behind it
14 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| εὐθέως | eutheos | immediately | G2112 → | 87 times |
| ἀπέπεσαν | apepesan | fell | G634 → | |
| αὐτοῦ | autou | of him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἀπὸ | apo | from | G575 → | 640 times |
| τῶν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὀφθαλμῶν | ophthalmon | eyes | G3788 → | 100 times |
| ὡς | hos | as | G5613 → | 500 times |
| λεπίδες, | lepides | scales, | G3013 → | |
| ἀνέβλεψέν | aneblepsen | he regained his sight | G308 → | 25 times |
| τε | te | also | G5037 → | 213 times |
| καὶ | kai | And | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἀναστὰς | anastas | having risen up | G450 → | 107 times |
| ἐβαπτίσθη, | ebaptisthe | he was baptized, | G907 → | 76 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
εὐθέωςimmediately
eutheosG2112 →87 times
ἀπέπεσανfell
apepesanG634 →
αὐτοῦof him
autouG846 →5565 times
ἀπὸfrom
apoG575 →640 times
τῶνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
ὀφθαλμῶνeyes
ophthalmonG3788 →100 times
ὡςas
hosG5613 →500 times
λεπίδες,scales,
lepidesG3013 →
ἀνέβλεψένhe regained his sight
aneblepsenG308 →25 times
τεalso
teG5037 →213 times
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἀναστὰςhaving risen up
anastasG450 →107 times
ἐβαπτίσθη,he was baptized,
ebaptistheG907 →76 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Acts 2:38Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
it leads to
- Acts 22:16
And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on His name.’
- Mark 16:16
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
- Acts 8:12
But when they believed Philip as he preached the gospel of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
- Luke 24:47
and in His name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.
- Acts 3:19
Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away,
- Acts 22:16
Through
Acts 22:16And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on His name.’
it leads to
- Acts 2:38
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- Acts 2:38
Through
2 Corinthians 3:14But their minds were closed. For to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It has not been lifted, because only in Christ can it be removed.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 4:3–4
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.
- Acts 26:18
to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified…
- 2 Corinthians 4:3–4
Where this verse is studied
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About Acts
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on Acts; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 20; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.