Acts 20:29 kjv
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Acts 20:29 nkjv
For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
Acts 20:29 niv
I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.
Acts 20:29 esv
I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;
Acts 20:29 nlt
I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock.
Acts 20 29 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mt 7:15 | "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing..." | Warning against false teachers |
| Jn 10:12 | "The hired hand flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep." | Contrast with true shepherd's care |
| Jer 23:1 | "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!" | Condemnation of negligent/destructive leaders |
| Ezek 34:2-3 | "...You slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep." | Leaders exploiting the flock |
| Isa 56:10-12 | "...They are all ignorant dogs... never satisfied. These are shepherds who cannot understand..." | Self-serving, unaware shepherds |
| Zech 11:17 | "Woe to the worthless shepherd who leaves the flock!" | Divine judgment on derelict shepherds |
| 2 Cor 11:13-15 | "For such men are false apostles... disguising themselves as apostles of Christ." | False teachers disguised |
| Phil 3:2 | "Look out for the dogs, look out for the evil doers..." | Paul's direct warnings about opponents |
| 1 Tim 1:3-7 | "warn certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer..." | Call to confront false teaching early |
| 1 Tim 4:1 | "Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith..." | Prophecy of future apostasy |
| 2 Tim 3:1-5 | "...people will be lovers of self, lovers of money... without self-control..." | Characteristics of dangerous individuals in the last days |
| 2 Tim 4:3-4 | "...they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions..." | People seeking agreeable but false teaching |
| Titus 1:10-11 | "For there are many insubordinate... They must be silenced..." | Necessity to silence false teachers |
| 2 Pet 2:1-3 | "But false prophets also arose among the people... exploiting you with false words." | Destructive nature of false teachers |
| 1 Jn 2:18-19 | "...children, it is the last hour... many antichrists have come." | Manifestation of anti-Christian forces |
| 1 Jn 4:1 | "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits..." | Exhortation to discernment |
| Jude 1:4 | "For certain people have crept in unnoticed who were long ago designated for this condemnation..." | Stealthy infiltration by ungodly persons |
| Rev 2:6 | "Yet you have this: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans..." | Early church struggles with heresies |
| Rev 2:20 | "But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel..." | Tolerating false teaching is condemned |
| Acts 20:28 | "Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock..." | Direct instruction to protect the flock |
| Acts 20:30 | "and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things..." | False teachers arising internally too |
| Rom 16:17-18 | "watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine..." | Division caused by false teachers |
Acts 20 verses
Acts 20 29 Meaning
Acts 20:29 conveys Paul's prophetic warning to the Ephesian elders regarding the future infiltration of the church by destructive forces. He foretells that after his departure, dangerous false teachers, metaphorically described as "grievous wolves," will invade the believing community. These individuals will exhibit a ruthless disregard for the spiritual well-being of the church, aiming to devour and scatter the "flock" rather than to shepherd and protect it, leading to spiritual harm and doctrinal deviation among believers.
Acts 20 29 Context
Acts 20:29 is part of Paul's deeply significant and emotionally charged farewell address to the Ephesian elders at Miletus (Acts 20:17-38). Knowing that he would not see them again (v. 25), Paul delivers a powerful exhortation. He recounts his faithful ministry among them (v. 18-21), emphasizes his readiness for suffering for the Gospel (v. 22-24), and declares his blamelessness in sharing the whole counsel of God (v. 26-27). This speech culminates in a direct charge to the elders (v. 28) to shepherd the church purchased by Christ's blood. The immediate context of verse 29, therefore, is a solemn warning to the church leaders to remain vigilant and protective against internal and external threats, underscored by Paul's imminent departure, which would leave them as the primary guardians of the flock. Historically, Paul's ministry was always followed by challenges from those who twisted the Gospel or introduced erroneous teachings, making this prophecy a consistent reality in the early church.
Acts 20 29 Word analysis
- For I know this: (οἶδα γὰρ τοῦτο - oida gar touto). Paul uses strong language, conveying a divine certainty and prophetic insight, not mere speculation. It reflects a revelation or profound understanding regarding future events concerning the church.
- that after my departing: (ὅτι μετὰ τὴν ἄφιξίν μου - hoti meta tēn aphixin mou). The Greek word aphixis literally means "arrival" or "return," which appears contradictory in a farewell speech. However, in this specific context, it is widely understood by scholars and translations to mean "departure" or "my going away" (perhaps connoting 'arrival' elsewhere, hence, 'departure' from here). It signifies Paul's physical absence from their midst, removing his direct protective and corrective influence, leaving the local leadership to contend with threats.
- shall grievous wolves: (εἰσελεύσονται λύκοι βαρεῖς - eiseleusontai lykoi bareis).
- shall enter in: (eiseleusontai) — signifies infiltration or invading from outside, but subtly moving into the midst of the congregation.
- wolves: (lykoi) — a powerful metaphor Jesus used (Mt 7:15) for false prophets. Wolves are predatory, cunning, and destructive creatures that kill, scatter, and exploit sheep. They are antithetical to a shepherd.
- grievous: (bareis) — means "heavy," "burdensome," "severe," "harsh," or "fierce." These are not merely misguided individuals, but dangerous, spiritually destructive forces whose teaching and influence are profoundly harmful to the church. They are a serious threat.
- among you: (εἰς ὑμᾶς - eis hymas). Points to the fact that these "wolves" will penetrate the community of believers itself, not just stand as an external threat.
- not sparing the flock: (μὴ φειδόμενοι τοῦ ποιμνίου - mē pheidomenoi tou poimniou).
- not sparing: (mē pheidomenoi) — highlights their lack of compassion, mercy, or hesitation. They will ruthlessly exploit, harm, and spiritually devour the believers.
- the flock: (tou poimniou) — refers to the entire church community, comprised of individual believers, who are like defenseless sheep without proper care.
Words-group analysis:
- "after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you": This phrase highlights the vulnerability of the church upon the removal of strong apostolic leadership. The passive yet intentional "shall enter in" coupled with the destructive nature of "grievous wolves" underscores an imminent and inevitable spiritual danger from forces hostile to the Gospel and the wellbeing of believers.
- "not sparing the flock": This emphasizes the cruel and exploitative intent of the false teachers. Their goal is not to correct or guide but to damage, scatter, or consume the spiritual lives of believers for their own gain or twisted ideologies. It stands in stark contrast to the loving and self-sacrificial nature of a true shepherd.
Acts 20 29 Bonus section
The historical fulfillment of Paul’s warning is extensively documented in subsequent New Testament writings (e.g., Epistles of Peter, Jude, John, and the Pastoral Epistles) which address the rise of heresies such as Gnosticism, legalism, and various forms of asceticism. This demonstrates the constant spiritual battle against deceit that the church must engage in. Paul's choice of "wolves" highlights not just intellectual error but a destructive spiritual intention. These individuals do not just misunderstand the truth; they actively seek to dismantle it and prey upon vulnerable believers. His emphasis on "after my departing" underscores the vital role of apostolic teaching and tradition as a safeguard, necessitating future leaders to hold fast to the delivered faith.
Acts 20 29 Commentary
Paul’s prophetic warning in Acts 20:29 serves as a solemn instruction to church leadership across all ages. It reveals that the gravest threats to the church often come from within or disguised as legitimate ministry, particularly in the absence of vigilant oversight. The imagery of "grievous wolves" directly contrasts with the shepherds' role; while shepherds protect, wolves destroy. These metaphorical wolves represent false teachers who spread destructive doctrines, sow discord, or exploit believers for personal gain, ultimately weakening faith and leading people astray. Paul's emphasis on them "not sparing the flock" underscores their ruthless, self-serving, and spiritually damaging agenda. This verse compels elders to practice sharp discernment, robust theological grounding, and courageous confrontation to safeguard the precious flock of God.
- Example 1: A leader prioritizing personal financial gain by soliciting excessive donations through manipulative teaching.
- Example 2: An individual subtly introducing unbiblical practices or beliefs that compromise the purity of the Gospel.
- Example 3: Teachers creating factions within the church based on non-essential doctrines, causing division.