Acts 20:29

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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing 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.

Context of Acts 20:29

27I didn’t avoid telling you the whole plan of God. 28Pay attention to yourselves and to the entire flock in which the Holy Spirit has placed you as bishops to be shepherds for God’s church which he acquired with his own blood. I know that fierce wolves will come to you after I leave, and they won’t spare the flock. 30Some of your own men will come forward and say things that distort the truth. They will do this to lure disciples into following them. 31So be alert! Remember that I instructed each of you for three years, day and night, at times with tears in my eyes.

Acts 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 3:3Its officials are ⌞like⌟ roaring lions. Its judges are ⌞like⌟ wolves in the evening. They leave nothing to gnaw on for the morning.
• Matthew 7:15“Beware of false prophets. They come to you disguised as sheep, but in their hearts they are vicious wolves.
• Matthew 10:16“I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as cunning as snakes but as innocent as doves.
• Luke 10:3Go! I’m sending you out like lambs among wolves.
• John 10:12A hired hand isn’t a shepherd and doesn’t own the sheep. When he sees a wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and quickly runs away. So the wolf drags the sheep away and scatters the flock.
• 2 Peter 2:1False prophets were among God’s people ⌞in the past⌟, as false teachers will be among you. They will secretly bring in their own destructive teachings. They will deny the Lord, who has bought them, and they will bring themselves swift destruction.
• Jeremiah 13:20Look up, and see those who are coming from the north. Where is the flock that was given to you—your beautiful sheep?
• Jeremiah 23:1“How horrible it will be for the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep in my care,” declares the Lord.
• Ezekiel 34:2“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy to these shepherds. Tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: How horrible it will be for the shepherds of Israel who have been taking care of only themselves. Shouldn’t shepherds take care of the sheep?
• Zechariah 11:17“How horrible it will be for the foolish shepherd who abandoned the sheep. A sword will strike his arm and his right eye. His arm will be completely withered. His right eye will be completely blind.”

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

• Elder
• Ephesus
• Miletus
• Minister, Christian
• Paul
• Watchfulness
• Wolf

In the dictionaries

• Appoint
• Bind
• Bishop
• Counsel
• Count
• Course
• Determine
• Draw
• Embrace
• Ephesians, Epistle to

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