"trans. to put away, separate; to draw off or away, withdraw, induce to revolt, Acts 5:37; intrans., and mid., to depart, go away from, Lk. 2:37; met. to desist or refrain from, let alone, Acts 5:38; 22:29; 2 Cor. 12:8; to make defection, fall away, apostatize, Lk. 8:13; 1 Tim. 4:..."
Definition and meaning
trans. to put away, separate; to draw off or away, withdraw, induce to revolt, Acts 5:37; intrans., and mid., to depart, go away from, Lk. 2:37; met. to desist or refrain from, let alone, Acts 5:38; 22:29; 2 Cor. 12:8; to make defection, fall away, apostatize, Lk. 8:13; 1 Tim. 4:1; Heb. 3:12; to withdraw from, have no intercourse with, 1 Tim. 6:5; to abstain from, 2 Tim. 2:19
In the original Greek the word is written: ἀφίστημι
Historical context
Luke wrote as a historian addressing a Greek audience. He carefully interviewed eyewitnesses and arranged events in order. The social and economic realities he describes — Roman taxation, Jewish religious hierarchy, the marginalization of women and the poor — are consistent with first-century Judea under Roman administration.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of aphistemi (G868) across the King James Bible.
And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.
They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.
After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.
And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.
But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.
Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.
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Common questions
Strong's G868 (aphistemi) is a Greek word that means: trans. to put away, separate; to draw off or away, withdraw, induce to revolt, Acts 5:37; intrans., and mid., to depart, go away from, Lk. 2:37; met. to desist or refrain from, let alone, Acts 5:38; 2... It appears 15 times in the King James Bible.
The word aphistemi (G868) appears 15 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G868 is aphistemi, a Greek word defined as: trans. to put away, separate; to draw off or away, withdraw, induce to revolt, Acts 5:37; intrans., and mid., to depart, go away from, Lk. 2:37; met. . James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
aphistemi is a Greek word found in the New Testament.