Greek word · G867

ἄφιξις

aphixis

departure

Built from ἀφικνέομαι, 'to arrive, reach'. In classical Greek ἄφιξις usually means 'arrival'. In later Greek it is also used for 'departure, going away', and that is the sense needed here.

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἄφ-ιξις, -εως, ἡ

(ἀφικνέομαι), [in LXX: 3Ma.7:18 * ;]

in cl. usually, arrival; rarely, departure: Acts 20:29 (so in π., cf. MM, see word; M, Proverbs 26:1-28, n.).†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Acts 20:29

Range of meaning

Built from ἀφικνέομαι, 'to arrive, reach'. In classical Greek ἄφιξις usually means 'arrival'. In later Greek it is also used for 'departure, going away', and that is the sense needed here.

Against the English

All major English versions say 'departure' or 'departing' (NLT: 'after I leave'). That is right for the context. None of them can show that the word could be a gentle way of hinting at death.

Used elsewhere in the period

BDAG gives 'departure' for this verse and cites Josephus, who uses ἄφιξις for going away (Antiquities 2.18; 4.315). The older meaning 'arrival' is common in Herodotus and Thucydides. The word occurs nowhere else in the New Testament.

Where it appears

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 20:29 ἄφιξίν departure

    I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.

    Here: Paul's going away. In this farewell setting ('you will see my face no more', v. 25) it points to his permanent absence, and it may hint at his death. It appears only here in the New Testament.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.