I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul uses "fierce wolves" not just for outsiders but to describe the danger of those who will come from within the church itself. The word he uses for "departure" doesn't necessarily mean death, but rather his physical absence, highlighting how vulnerable the church becomes when its leaders aren't present.
I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is speaking to the elders of the church in Ephesus, having called them to Miletus for a final farewell. He's reminded them of his faithful ministry and urged them to shepherd the flock diligently. Now, he issues a solemn warning that after his departure, dangerous intruders will infiltrate the church.
Paul uses a striking metaphor to describe a dangerous threat to the church. What makes these 'wolves' so terrifying, and why is their appearance inevitable?
Paul warns the Ephesian elders about "grievous wolves" who will "enter in among you, not sparing the flock." This powerful imagery isn't just about external enemies. While it certainly includes those who would openly attack the church with persecution, the primary danger Paul foresaw was internal.
These "wolves" represent false teachers. They don't care for the spiritual well-being of God's people; instead, they seek to exploit and destroy the flock for their own gain. They come "not sparing," meaning they show no mercy, inflicting severe spiritual damage.
Paul's confidence in this prediction stems from his deep understanding of human nature and the ongoing spiritual battle. He had already seen the
Paul speaks of a future threat that will emerge 'after my departing.' What does this phrase truly signify, and why is the timing so crucial?
The phrase 'after my departing' is key to understanding Paul's foresight. It doesn't simply refer to his death, but more broadly to his physical absence and separation from the Ephesian church.
This departure marks a transition. While Paul was present, his ministry, teaching, and oversight provided a strong defense against false doctrines. However, he knew that once he was gone, the church would be more vulnerable.
The threat wasn't immediate but would arise after his departure, highlighting the importance of the foundational teaching he had provided. The seeds of error could then take root and grow without his direct, immediate counteraction.
Ask a follow-up
Paul’s warning about wolves suggests a danger not just from outside, but from within. What’s the difference, and why is the internal threat often more insidious?
Paul distinguishes between threats from outside and those that arise from within the community itself. The 'grievous wolves' are the first wave, implying external forces aiming to harm the flock. However, he immediately follows this by stating that 'from among yourselves men will arise speaking perverse things.'
This internal threat is particularly dangerous because these individuals are often part of the community. They may appear to be believers, even leaders ('speaking perverse things' implies a distorted teaching), making them harder to identify and resist.
Their goal is not to protect the flock but to 'draw away disciples after them,' seeking personal following and influence rather than the glory of God. This insidious nature makes them a more potent danger than overt persecution, as they can corrupt the church from its very core.
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 prophecy but a sharp insight based on his experience with the 'seeds' of error he'd already observed, making his foresight deeply rooted in the unfolding reality of the early church.
c. AD 52-57
Paul's Ministry in Ephesus
Paul spent over two years in Ephesus, establishing a strong church and facing considerable opposition. This period likely revealed to him the existing 'seeds' of future false teachings and internal strife.
c. AD 57— this verse
Paul's Farewell to Ephesian Elders
During his farewell address at Miletus, Paul warns the Ephesian elders about the imminent dangers they will face from both external deceivers and internal dissension after his departure.
c. AD 60-62
Judaizing and Gnostic Influences Grow
Within a few years of Paul's warning, the influence of Judaizers (insisting on adherence to Jewish law) and early Gnostic ideas became more pronounced in Asia Minor, threatening the purity of the gospel.
c. AD 62-67
First Peter Written
Peter's letter speaks of a 'fiery trial' and suffering 'as a Christian,' indicating that the church was already experiencing significant external pressures and internal difficulties.
c. AD 64-68
Pastoral Epistles Written
Paul's letters to Timothy and Titus address specific issues of false teaching and church order that had arisen, mirroring his concerns expressed in Acts 20 and providing further evidence of the 'grievous wolves' at work.
c. AD 90-95
Revelation Written
The letters to the seven churches in Revelation, particularly Ephesus, Pergamum, and Thyatira, reveal the continued presence of false teachers (like Nicolaitans and Jezebel) and internal corruption that Paul had foreseen.
This passage describes the hired hand who is not a shepherd and flees when the wolf attacks, contrasting with the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep. It highlights the spiritual danger to the flock when true shepherds are absent or neglectful, much like Paul's warning about 'fierce wolves'.
Matthew 7:15Jesus warns against false prophets who come 'in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.' This directly parallels Paul's metaphor, emphasizing that the danger often comes from those who appear harmless but have destructive intentions towards God's people.
2 Timothy 3:1-5Paul describes 'terrible, violent people' who will appear in the last days, lovers of self and pleasure rather than God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. This passage illuminates the internal threat Paul foresaw, where deception and self-interest would plague the church from within, mirroring the 'wolves' Paul warned the Ephesian elders about.
Jeremiah 23:1-6In the Old Testament, God condemns the shepherds of Israel who have scattered His flock and warns of a righteous 'Branch' who will reign and rule justly. This prophecy echoes Paul's concern for the flock and the coming devastation by false shepherds, while also pointing to the ultimate hope of true leadership in Christ.
Revelation 2:2-3The letters to the churches in Revelation commend those who test false apostles and condemn those who tolerate the teaching of Jezebel and the Nicolaitans. This shows how Paul's prophecy in Acts was realized, with specific groups actively working to corrupt the churches from within, as he had foreseen.
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 uses "fierce wolves" not just for outsiders but to describe the danger of those who will come from within the church itself. The word he uses for "departure" doesn't necessarily mean death, but rather his physical absence, highlighting how vulnerable the church becomes when its leaders aren't present.
Paul is speaking to the elders of the church in Ephesus, having called them to Miletus for a final farewell. He's reminded them of his faithful ministry and urged them to shepherd the flock diligently. Now, he issues a solemn warning that after his departure, dangerous intruders will infiltrate the church.
Paul is speaking to the elders of the church in Ephesus, having called them to Miletus for a final farewell. He's reminded them of his faithful ministry and urged them to shepherd the flock diligently. Now, he issues a solemn warning that after his departure, dangerous intruders will infiltrate the church.
"I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;" — Paul uses "fierce wolves" not just for outsiders but to describe the danger of those who will come from within the church itself. The word he uses for "departure" doesn't necessarily mean death, bu…
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Last reviewed October 2026