English Standard Version
Acts 20:29
29I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;
Acts 20:29 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
- New International Version (NIV)I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
- New Living Translation (NLT)I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock.
Context of Acts 20:29
27for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 28Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.
Read all of Acts 20Acts 20:29 word by word
Ἐγὼ οἶδα ὅτι εἰσελεύσονται μετὰ τὴν ἄφιξίν μου λύκοι βαρεῖς εἰς ὑμᾶς μὴ φειδόμενοι τοῦ ποιμνίου,Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- knowεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
- thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- afterμετάmeta · with/afterG3326
- departingὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- departingἄφιξιςaphixis · departureG867
- shall grievousβαρύςbarus · weightyG926
- wolvesλύκοςlukos · wolfG3074
- enterεἰσέρχομαιeiserchomai · to enterG1525
- in amongεἰςeis · towardG1519
- youσύsu · youG4771
- notμήmē · notG3361
- sparingφείδομαιpheidomai · to spareG5339
- the flockποίμνιονpoimnion · flockG4168
Cross-references for Acts 20:29
- Zephaniah 3:3Her officials within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves that leave nothing till the morning.
- Matthew 7:15"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
- Matthew 10:16"Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
- Luke 10:3Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.
- John 10:12He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.
- 2 Peter 2:1But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
- Jeremiah 13:20"Lift up your eyes and see those who come from the north. Where is the flock that was given you, your beautiful flock?
- Jeremiah 23:1"Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!" declares the Lord.
- Ezekiel 34:2"Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord God: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep?
- Zechariah 11:17"Woe to my worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! Let his arm be wholly withered, his right eye utterly blinded!"
Commentaries on Acts 20:29
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 29After 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.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 29For 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 departure - 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 ͂ bareisstrong, mighty, dangerous…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 28-38Verses 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 God. This put such dignity…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 29-30savage wolves: Paul’s prophecy did in fact happen, prompting him to write to Timothy in Ephesus some five years later (see 1 Timothy 1:3–7, 19–20; 4:1–5; see also Matthew 7:15; 10:16; Mark 13:22; Luke 10:3; 2 Peter 2:1–22; 3:3).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 29-3029-30. 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…Read the comment
Topics related to Acts 20:29
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Acts 20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries