868. aphistémi
Lexical Summary
aphistémi: To depart, withdraw, remove, desert, fall away

Original Word: ἀφίστημι
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: aphistémi
Pronunciation: ah-FIS-tay-mee
Phonetic Spelling: (af-is'-tay-mee)
KJV: depart, draw (fall) away, refrain, withdraw self
NASB: fall away, left, abstain, depart, departed, deserted, drew away
Word Origin: [from G575 (ἀπό - since) and G2476 (ἵστημι - standing)]

1. to remove
2. (actively) instigate to revolt
3. (usually, reflexively) to desist, desert, etc.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
depart, fall away, refrain, withdraw self.

From apo and histemi; to remove, i.e. (actively) instigate to revolt; usually (reflexively) to desist, desert, etc. -- depart, draw (fall) away, refrain, withdraw self.

see GREEK apo

see GREEK histemi

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from apo and histémi
Definition
to lead away, to depart from
NASB Translation
abstain (1), depart (1), departed (1), deserted (1), drew away (1), fall away (2), falls away (1), leave (1), left (2), let go (1), stay away (1), withdrew (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 868: ἀφίστημι

ἀφίστημι: 1 aorist ἀπέστησα; 2 aorist ἀπέστην; middle, present ἀφισταμαι, imperative ἀφίστασο (1 Timothy 6:5 Rec.; cf. Winer's Grammar, § 14, 1 e.); (imperfect ἀφισταμην); future ἀποστήσομαι;

1. transitively, in present, imperfect, future, 1 aorist active, to make stand off, cause to withdraw, to remove; tropically, to excite to revolt: Acts 5:37 (ἀπέστησε λαόν ... ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ drew away after him; τινα ἀπό τίνος, Deuteronomy 7:4, and in Greek writings from Herodotus 1, 76 down).

2. intransitively, in perfect, pluperfect, 2 aorist active, to stand off, stand aloof, in various senses (as in Greek writings) according to the context: ἀπό with the genitive of person to go away, depart, from anyone, Luke 13:27 (from Psalm 6:9; cf. Matthew 7:23 ἀποχωρεῖτε ἀπ' ἐμοῦ); Acts 12:10; Acts 19:9; to desert, withdraw from, one, Acts 15:38; to cease to vex one, Luke 4:13; Acts 5:38; Acts 22:29; 2 Corinthians 12:8; to fall away, become faithless, ἀπό Θεοῦ, Hebrews 3:12; to shun, flee from, ἀπό τῆς ἀδικίας, 2 Timothy 2:19. Middle, to withdraw oneself from: absolutely, to fall away, Luke 8:13; (τῆς πίστεως, 1 Timothy 4:1, cf. Winers Grammar, 427, 428 (398)); to keep oneself away from, absent oneself from, Luke 2:37 (οὐκ ἀφίστατο ἀπό (T Tr WH omit ἀπό) τοῦ ἱεροῦ, she was in the temple every day); from anyone's society or fellowship, 1 Timothy 6:5 Rec.

Topical Lexicon
Range of Usage in Scripture

The verb appears fourteen times and consistently describes an act of stepping away—from a place, a person, a commitment, or from evil itself. The contexts cluster around five themes: (1) physical departure, (2) divine deliverance, (3) apostasy, (4) pastoral withdrawal from opposition, and (5) direct commands to separate from wickedness.

Physical Departure

Luke 2:37 shows the negative form: Anna “never left the temple, but worshiped night and day.” Her steadfastness highlights the verb’s ordinary, spatial sense. In Acts 12:10 the angel escorts Peter out of prison and then “the angel left him,” marking the end of a miraculous rescue. Acts 22:29 records a swift retreat: Roman soldiers “withdrew from him” once they learned of Paul’s citizenship. Each instance stresses movement in space yet serves larger theological ends—showing a life centered on worship, God’s power to liberate, and God-given human rights.

Divine Deliverance and Cosmic Conflict

Luke 4:13 frames the end of the temptation narrative: “When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time.” The departure of Satan validates Christ’s moral victory and anticipates the ongoing but ultimately doomed opposition of the evil one. In 2 Corinthians 12:8 Paul prays that his “thorn” might “leave me,” and although the Lord declines, the verb highlights the believer’s freedom to appeal to God for relief while submitting to His sufficient grace.

Spiritual Defection and Apostasy

The sharpest warnings concern turning away from truth. Luke 8:13 pictures rocky-soil hearers who “believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.” Hebrews 3:12 exhorts, “See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God.” 1 Timothy 4:1 intensifies the future danger: “In later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits.” These texts tie the act of withdrawing not merely to doctrinal error but to a heart hardened by unbelief.

Pastoral Withdrawal from Opposition

Acts 19:9 records Paul “leaving them” when synagogue resistance hardened; he relocates ministry to the lecture hall of Tyrannus. At Antioch in Pisidia, John Mark had “deserted them in Pamphylia” (Acts 15:38), prompting later tension between Paul and Barnabas. Acts 5:37 recounts Judas the Galilean who “drew away” followers into a failed revolt, an example Gamaliel employs to caution against fighting God.

Commands to Separate from Wickedness

Three imperatives use the verb. Jesus will declare at the final judgment, “Away from Me, all you evildoers!” (Luke 13:27). Gamaliel advises the Sanhedrin, “Keep away from these men and leave them alone” (Acts 5:38). Paul insists, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness” (2 Timothy 2:19). The latter text couples divine sovereignty (“The Lord knows those who are His”) with human responsibility to renounce iniquity.

Historical Perspective in Acts

Luke employs the verb to trace both authentic and counterfeit movements. Physical releases (Acts 12:10), administrative retreats (Acts 22:29), and strategic relocations (Acts 19:9) advance the gospel, whereas desertion (Acts 15:38) and seditious uprisings (Acts 5:37) contrast kingdom motives with political zealotry. The early church discerned God’s hand in both preserving His servants and exposing false ventures.

Ministry Implications

1. Perseverance: The contrast between Anna’s constancy and the rocky-soil hearers underscores the call to abide.
2. Vigilance: Apostasy warnings demand watchfulness over doctrine and heart.
3. Separation: Believers must actively distance themselves from wickedness and unsound teaching while entrusting vengeance and vindication to God.
4. Strategic Flexibility: Paul’s withdrawal from hostile venues models wise stewardship of opportunities.
5. Hope in Deliverance: Whether from prison bars or satanic assault, God remains able to release His people in His timing.

Theological Reflection

The verb paints a two-way street. God may graciously cause enemies to depart (Luke 4:13; Acts 12:10), yet human beings may also choose to depart from God (Hebrews 3:12). Scripture therefore unites divine sovereignty with human accountability, calling the church to cling to the living God, resist the devil, and stand firm in truth.

Forms and Transliterations
απεστη απέστη ἀπέστη απέστημεν απέστης απέστησα απεστήσαμεν απεστησαν απέστησαν ἀπέστησαν απεστησε απέστησε ἀπέστησε απέστησεν ἀπέστησεν απέστητε απόστα αποσταίη αποσταντα αποστάντα ἀποστάντα αποστάντες αποστας αποστάς ἀποστὰς αποστη αποστή ἀποστῇ απόστηθι αποστηναι αποστήναι ἀποστῆναι αποστής αποστήσαι αποστήσαί αποστήσει αποστήσεται αποστήση αποστησόμεθα απόστησον αποστησονται αποστήσονταί ἀποστήσονταί αποστήσω αποστητε αποστήτε απόστητε ἀπόστητε Αποστητω αποστήτω Ἀποστήτω αποστώμεν αφέστακα αφέστηκας αφέστηκε αφέστηκεν αφεστηκός αφεστηκότα αφεστηκότας αφεστηκότες αφέστησε αφιστανται αφίστανται ἀφίστανται αφίστασο αφιστατο αφίστατο ἀφίστατο apeste apestē apéste apéstē apestesan apestēsan apéstesan apéstēsan apestesen apestēsen apéstesen apéstēsen aphistantai aphístantai aphistato aphístato apostanta apostánta apostas apostàs aposte apostē apostêi apostē̂i apostenai apostênai apostēnai apostē̂nai apostesontai apostēsontai apostḗsontaí apostete apostēte apóstete apóstēte Aposteto Apostētō Apostḗto Apostḗtō
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Englishman's Concordance
Luke 2:37 V-IIM/P-3S
GRK: ἣ οὐκ ἀφίστατο τοῦ ἱεροῦ
NAS: She never left the temple,
KJV: years, which departed not from
INT: who not departed the temple

Luke 4:13 V-AIA-3S
GRK: ὁ διάβολος ἀπέστη ἀπ' αὐτοῦ
NAS: temptation, he left Him until
KJV: the temptation, he departed from
INT: the devil departed from him

Luke 8:13 V-PIM/P-3P
GRK: καιρῷ πειρασμοῦ ἀφίστανται
NAS: and in time of temptation fall away.
KJV: time of temptation fall away.
INT: time of testing fall away

Luke 13:27 V-AMA-2P
GRK: πόθεν ἐστέ ἀπόστητε ἀπ' ἐμοῦ
NAS: where you are from; DEPART FROM ME, ALL
KJV: whence ye are; depart from me,
INT: from where you are depart from me

Acts 5:37 V-AIA-3S
GRK: ἀπογραφῆς καὶ ἀπέστησεν λαὸν ὀπίσω
NAS: of the census and drew away [some] people
KJV: and drew away much
INT: census and drew away people after

Acts 5:38 V-AMA-2P
GRK: λέγω ὑμῖν ἀπόστητε ἀπὸ τῶν
NAS: I say to you, stay away from these
KJV: I say unto you, Refrain from these
INT: I say to you Withdraw from the

Acts 12:10 V-AIA-3S
GRK: καὶ εὐθέως ἀπέστη ὁ ἄγγελος
NAS: the angel departed from him.
KJV: forthwith the angel departed from him.
INT: and immediately departed the angel

Acts 15:38 V-APA-AMS
GRK: ἠξίου τὸν ἀποστάντα ἀπ' αὐτῶν
NAS: that they should not take him along who had deserted them in Pamphylia
KJV: with them, who departed from them
INT: thought it well the [one] having withdrawn from them

Acts 19:9 V-APA-NMS
GRK: τοῦ πλήθους ἀποστὰς ἀπ' αὐτῶν
NAS: the people, he withdrew from them and took away
KJV: the multitude, he departed from
INT: the multitude having departed from them

Acts 22:29 V-AIA-3P
GRK: εὐθέως οὖν ἀπέστησαν ἀπ' αὐτοῦ
NAS: him immediately let go of him; and the commander
KJV: straightway they departed from
INT: Immediately therefore departed from him

2 Corinthians 12:8 V-ASA-3S
GRK: παρεκάλεσα ἵνα ἀποστῇ ἀπ' ἐμοῦ
NAS: three times that it might leave me.
KJV: thrice, that it might depart from me.
INT: I begged that it might depart from me

1 Timothy 4:1 V-FIM-3P
GRK: ὑστέροις καιροῖς ἀποστήσονταί τινες τῆς
NAS: some will fall away from the faith,
KJV: some shall depart from the faith,
INT: latter times will depart from some the

2 Timothy 2:19 V-AMA-3S
GRK: αὐτοῦ καί Ἀποστήτω ἀπὸ ἀδικίας
NAS: of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.
KJV: of Christ depart from
INT: his and Let depart from unrighteousness

Hebrews 3:12 V-ANA
GRK: ἐν τῷ ἀποστῆναι ἀπὸ θεοῦ
NAS: heart that falls away from the living
KJV: in departing from
INT: in departing from God

Strong's Greek 868
14 Occurrences


ἀπέστη — 2 Occ.
ἀπέστησαν — 1 Occ.
ἀπέστησεν — 1 Occ.
ἀφίστανται — 1 Occ.
ἀφίστατο — 1 Occ.
ἀποστάντα — 1 Occ.
ἀποστὰς — 1 Occ.
ἀποστῇ — 1 Occ.
ἀποστῆναι — 1 Occ.
ἀποστήσονταί — 1 Occ.
ἀπόστητε — 2 Occ.
Ἀποστήτω — 1 Occ.

867
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