Acts 20 · Verse 29

Acts 20:29

For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Acts 20:29, King James Version

Acts 20:29 in other translations

BSBI know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.
WEBFor I know that after my departure, vicious wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
ASVI know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock;
YLTfor I have known this, that there shall enter in, after my departing, grievous wolves unto you, not sparing the flock,
DARBYFor I know this, that there will come in amongst you after my departure grievous wolves, not sparing the flock;
BBEI am conscious that after I am gone, evil wolves will come in among you, doing damage to the flock;
WebsterFor I know this, that after my departure grievous wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

What does Acts 20:29 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 20:29-30
29-30. after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you--Two classes of coming enemies are here announced, the one more external to themselves, the other bred in the bosom of their own community; both were to be teachers, but the one, "grievous wolves," not sparing, that is, making a prey of the flock; the other (Ac 20:30), simply sectarian "perverters" of the truth, with the view of drawing a party after them. Perhaps the one pointed to that subtle poison of Oriental Gnosticism which we know to have very early infected the Asiatic churches; the other to such Judaizing tendencies as we know to have troubled nearly all the early churches. See the Epistles to the Ephesians, Colossians, and Timothy, also those to the seven churches of Asia (Re 2:1-3:22). But watchfulness against all that tends to injure and corrupt the Church is the duty of its pastors in every age.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 29. For I know this. By what he had seen in other places; by his knowledge of human nature, and of the dangers to which they were exposed; and by the guidance of inspiration.

After my departing. His presence had been the means of guarding the church, and preserving it from these dangers. Now that the founder and guide of the church was to be removed, they would be exposed to dissensions and dangers.

Grievous wolves. Heavy, βαρεις, strong, mighty, dangerous wolves--so strong that the feeble flock would not be able to resist them. The term wolves is used to denote the enemies of the flock--false, and hypocritical, and dangerous teachers. Compare Mt 10:16; Acts 7:15.

Enter in among you. From abroad; doubtless referring particularly to the Jews, who might be expected to distract and divide them.

Not sparing the flock. Seeking to destroy the church. The Jews would regard it with peculiar hostility, and would seek to destroy it in every way. Probably they would approach them with great professed friendship for them, and expressing a desire only to defend the laws of Moses.

(b) "Grievous wolves" Mt 7:15, 2Pet 2:1 (c) "sparing the flock" Jer 13:20, 23:1, Eze 34:2,3, Zech 11:17

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 29 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 20:28-38

If the Holy Ghost has made ministers overseers of the flock, that is, shepherds, they must be true to their trust. Let them consider their Master's concern for the flock committed to their charge. It is the church He has purchased with his own blood. The blood was his as Man; yet so close is the union between the Divine and human nature, that it is there called the blood of God, for it was the blood of Him who is…

Read the full comment on Acts 20:28-38 →

Acts 20:29 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἘγὼEgōI myselfG1473
οἶδαoidaknow
ὅτιhotithatG3754
εἰσελεύσονταιeiseleusontaiwill come inG1525
μετὰmetaafterG3326
τὴνtēntheG3588
ἄφιξίνaphixindepartureG867
μουmouof mineG3165
λύκοιlukoiwolvesG3074
βαρεῖςbareisgrievousG926
εἰςeisamongG1519
ὑμᾶςhumasyouG4771
μὴmēnotG3361
φειδόμενοιpheidomenoisparingG5339
τοῦtoutheG3588
ποιμνίου,poimniouflock,G4168

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 20:29

  • Matthew 7:15

    Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

  • 2 Peter 2:1

    But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

  • Luke 10:3

    Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.

  • Acts 20:28

    Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

  • John 10:12

    But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

  • Matthew 10:16

    Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

  • Ezekiel 34:2-3

    Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.

  • Zechariah 11:17

    Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.

  • Jeremiah 23:1

    Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord.

  • Zephaniah 3:3

    Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.

  • Jeremiah 13:20

    Lift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the north: where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock?

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
wolves.
Zep 3:3; Mt 7:15; 10:16; Lu 10:3; Joh 10:12; 2Pe 2:1
not.
Jer 13:20; 23:1; Eze 34:2,3; Zec 11:17

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 20:28

    Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

  • Acts 20:29

    For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

  • Acts 20:30

    Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

Read all of Acts 20

Acts 20:29 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque yo sé que después de mi partida entrarán en medio de vosotros lobos rapaces, que no perdonarán al ganado;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Moi je sais qu’après mon départ il entrera parmi vous des loups redoutables qui n’épargneront pas le troupeau;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn ich weiß dieses,daß nach meinem Abschiede verderbliche Wölfe zu euch hereinkommen werden, die der Herde nicht schonen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ego scio quoniam intrabunt post discessionem meam lupi rapaces in vos, non parcentes gregi.