And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales, х hoosei (G5616) lepides (G3013)] - not actual scales, but something resembling the falling of such from the eyes; just as on the day of Pentecost there sat on the disciples "cloven tongues (not of fire, but) like as of fire" х hoosei (G5616) puros (G4442)] (Acts 2:3). 'This shows (as Webster and Wilkinson pertinently remark) that the blindness as well as the cure was supernatural. Substances like scales would not form naturally in so short a time.' The medical precision of the beloved physician's language here is worthy of note.
And he received sight [forthwith]. This bracketed word х parachreema (G3916)], though one of which our historian is fond, both in his Gospel and in the Acts, is wanting in authority here. On the purely fanciful style of criticism by which Humphry infers that this cure was never complete, see the note at Acts 9:8. Since this restoration of sight is recorded in the same simple style in which the complete and instantaneous cures of our Lord are recorded in the Gospels (cf. Matthew 20:34; Mark 10:52, etc.), and those of the apostles in this same book (cf. Acts 7:1-60; Acts 10:34; Acts 14:10. etc.), it seems almost ludicrous to suppose, from Galatians 4:15, that the Galatians proposed to supply the apostle's lack of vision by a gift of their own. As to the thorn in the flesh, it had better be left in its obscurity.
And arose, and was baptized - in compliance with the call of Ananias, not here recorded, but reported long afterward by himself in his address to the people of Jerusalem (Acts 22:16), "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." No doubt the baptism was performed by the bands of Ananias himself. For further particulars of this interview, see the notes at Acts 22:12-21.