Acts 20:29
I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Paul’s stark warning isn't just about external enemies; he implies that his own departure is the crucial factor enabling these "wolves" to gain entry. This metaphor of "grievous wolves" highlights their violent intent, not just to mislead, but to rip apart and devour the spiritual flock.
Paul is saying goodbye to the elders of Ephesus, a beloved congregation he’s spent years nurturing. He's just warned them about their responsibility to care for God's flock, and now he’s giving them a stark prophecy: after he leaves, dangerous people will infiltrate the church, exploiting and harming believers for their own gain.
Paul is about to leave the Ephesians, and his final words aren't about comfort, but a stark warning. What makes this message so critical?
Paul uses a powerful metaphor here, likening himself and the elders to shepherds and the church to a flock. This isn't just poetic language; it highlights the deep responsibility Paul feels and the vulnerability of the believers.
The Shepherd's Role
Shepherds are protectors. They guard the sheep from predators, lead them to pasture, and care for the weak. Paul sees himself as fulfilling this role for the Ephesians, and his departure means this vital protection will be removed.
Foresight, Not Fear
Paul isn't paralyzed by fear, but empowered by divine foresight. He knows what's coming. This knowledge fuels his urgent plea to the elders, not to cause panic, but to prepare them for the spiritual battles ahead.
Paul warns of 'fierce wolves' entering the flock. Who are these predators, and how do they operate?
The imagery of 'wolves' is intense and specific. These aren't just minor irritants; they are dangerous, predatory forces intent on destruction.
External Threats
Initially, the 'wolves' represent outside attackers – false teachers who will try to infiltrate the community. They don't care about the flock's well-being; their motive is to harm and scatter.
Internal Dangers
Crucially, these wolves don't always come from outside. The context of the next verse reveals that some will even arise 'from among you.' This is a chilling thought – the greatest danger can come from those who seem to be part of the flock.
Their Goal: Devastation
The phrase 'not sparing the flock' reveals their destructive intent. They aim to tear apart the unity, truth, and spiritual health of the church, leaving it vulnerable and broken.
Understand the original words
lykos · Greek Noun
A metaphorical term for destructive, predatory, and false teachers who infiltrate the church to exploit or scatter the believers for their own gain.
Paul's warning wasn't a vague prediction, but a keenly observed assessment based on the realities of false teachers and internal strife already emerging in the early church, the very seeds of which he had encountered and warned against throughout his ministry.
c. AD 50-52
Paul's Ministry in Ephesus
Paul spent over two years ministering in Ephesus, a major city in the Roman province of Asia. During this time, he established a strong church and encountered both receptiveness and opposition. This period likely informed his awareness of potential threats to the church's stability.
c. AD 53-56
Paul's Third Missionary Journey
Paul's journey likely included visits to churches in Asia Minor, where he may have observed or heard reports of early signs of false teachings and divisions.
c. AD 57
Paul Writes 1 Corinthians
In this letter, written from Ephesus, Paul addresses various issues within the Corinthian church, including divisions, false apostles, and doctrinal disputes. This demonstrates the presence of internal challenges in early churches.
c. AD 62
Paul Writes Ephesians
Although written from prison, likely later in his ministry, this letter addresses profound theological truths and emphasizes unity within the church. It can be seen as a foundation for the spiritual strength needed against future threats.
This passage powerfully describes corrupt shepherds who care for themselves rather than the flock, paralleling Paul's warning about 'fierce wolves' who will exploit the church instead of nurturing it.
Matthew 7:15Jesus Himself warned about 'false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves,' directly echoing the imagery and threat Paul describes to the Ephesian elders.
John 10:11-12Jesus contrasts Himself, the 'good shepherd,' with a 'hired hand' who abandaves the sheep when danger appears, highlighting the self-serving nature of the 'wolves' Paul foresees who will not spare the flock.
2 Timothy 4:3-4This passage from Paul to Timothy directly warns about people who will not 'endure sound teaching' but will 'gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires,' illustrating the internal threat Paul foresaw in Acts 20.
Revelation 2:2In this early church letter, Jesus commends the Ephesian church for testing those who claimed to be apostles but were not, showing how the very danger Paul warned about began to manifest.
ellicottActs 20:29: "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock."
(29) After my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you. —The figurative language followed naturally on the idea of the flock and of the shepherds who keep watch over it. It lies in the nature of the case that the wolf stands primarily for the open enemies of the flock, the persecutors of all ages. (Comp. John 10:12 .) The wolves, however, might come in sheep’s clothi…
clarkeActs 20:29: "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock."
After my departing - Referring, most likely, to his death; for few of these evils took place during his life. Grievous wolves - Persons professing to be teachers; Judaizing Christians, who, instead of feeding the flock, would feed themselves, even to the oppression and ruin of the Church.
Paul’s stark warning isn't just about external enemies; he implies that his own departure is the crucial factor enabling these "wolves" to gain entry. This metaphor of "grievous wolves" highlights their violent intent, not just to mislead, but to rip apart and devour the spiritual flock.
Paul is saying goodbye to the elders of Ephesus, a beloved congregation he’s spent years nurturing. He's just warned them about their responsibility to care for God's flock, and now he’s giving them a stark prophecy: after he leaves, dangerous people will infiltrate the church, exploiting and harming believers for their own gain.
Paul is saying goodbye to the elders of Ephesus, a beloved congregation he’s spent years nurturing. He's just warned them about their responsibility to care for God's flock, and now he’s giving them a stark prophecy: after he leaves, dangerous people will infiltrate the church, exploiting and harming believers for their own gain.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Acts 20:29 is available in the Sola app.
c. AD 67-68— this verse
Paul Writes 2 Timothy
In his final letter, Paul warns Timothy about individuals like Hymenaeus and Philetus who have strayed from the truth. This reflects the fulfillment of his earlier predictions about false teachers emerging.
c. AD 90s
John Writes Revelation
The letters to the seven churches in Asia Minor, particularly Ephesus and Pergamum, describe specific issues like Nicolaitanism and false prophets, confirming the presence of the 'grievous wolves' Paul predicted.
"I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;" — Paul’s stark warning isn't just about external enemies; he implies that his own departure is the crucial factor enabling these "wolves" to gain entry. This metaphor of "grievous wolves" highlights…
