Acts 9:18

New Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Acts 9:18 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And straightway there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight; and he arose and was baptized;” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And straightway there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight; and he arose and was baptized;
Acts 9:18 — American Standard Version

Context — Acts 9

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
18And straightway there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight; and he arose and was baptized;

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And immediately there fell from his eyes, as it had been scales, etc.] Which were little thin skins or films, like the scales of fishes, which were formed from the defluxions that fell from his brain, through the excessive light that shone around him, and the surprise he was thrown into by it: these, as soon as Ananias put his hands upon him, dropped off; which were an emblem and representation of the scales of ignorance, of himself, of sin, of righteousness, of the law, of the Gospel, and of Jesus as the Messiah; and of unbelief in him, and of pride, malice, and envy, and of superstition and bigotry, and of error and false doctrine, which, upon his being enlightened by the Spirit of God,…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“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 (Act 22:16).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“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.…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“immediately: Co2 3:14, Co2 4:6 and was: Act 2:38, Act 2:41, Act 13:12, Act 13:13, Act 13:37, Act 13:38, Act 22:16 Acts 9:19”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification