Acts 20:29 · Bible study
Acts 20:29 Commentary: Warning Against Vicious Wolves After Paul's Departure
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
What are the 'vicious wolves' Paul warns about? A study of Acts 20:29 with original language, commentary, and application for church leaders.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Paul warns that after his departure, savage false teachers will invade the flock with no mercy.
- Key words: βαρεῖς ('heavy, violent'); λύκοι ('wolves', cruel men); ἄφιξις ('departure' or 'arrival' by context).
- Main debate: Whether 'departure' refers to Paul's death or his leaving Asia; also whether the wolves are Judaizers, Gnostics, or a general class.
- Theological theme: The vulnerability of the church after leadership changes; the necessity of watchful shepherding.
- Best use: As a sobering text for ordination, pastoral transitions, or teaching on church discernment.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.
WEB World English Bible 2000
For I know that after my departure, vicious wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
KJV King James Version 1769
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock;
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
for I have known this, that there shall enter in, after my departing, grievous wolves unto you, not sparing the flock,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
[For] I know [this,] that there will come in amongst you after my departure grievous wolves, not sparing the flock;
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
I know that after my departure ravening wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Porque yo sé que después de mi partida entrarán en medio de vosotros lobos rapaces, que no perdonarán al ganado;
Porque isto eu sei, que depois de minha partida, entrarão entre vós lobos cruéis, que não pouparão ao rebanho;
Je sais qu’ il s’ introduira parmi vous, après mon départ, des loups cruels qui n’ épargneront pas le troupeau,
Denn das weiß ich, daß nach meinem Abschied werden unter euch kommen greuliche Wölfe, die die Herde nicht verschonen werden.
Want dit weet ik, dat na mijn vertrek zware wolven tot u inkomen zullen, die de kudde niet sparen.
Io so che dopo la mia partenza entreranno fra voi de’ lupi rapaci, i quali non risparmieranno il gregge;
Boć ja to wiem, że po odejściu mojem wnijdą między was wilcy okrutni, którzy trzodzie folgować nie będą.
Ибо я знаю, что, по отшествии моем, войдут к вам лютые волки, не щадящие стада;
我 知道， 我 去 之後 必有兇暴 的豺狼 進入 你們 中間，不 愛惜 羊群。
I am conscious that after I am gone, evil wolves will come in among you, doing damage to the flock;
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Acts 20:29
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree on the central thrust: after Paul leaves, false teachers will invade the Ephesian church, behaving like wolves who prey on the flock without mercy. The term βαρεῖς (bareis, 'heavy, grievous') is rendered 'vicious' or 'savage', Vincent notes it means 'violent, rapacious.' Barnes adds that the wolves are so strong the flock cannot resist them. Gill identifies them as false teachers who 'enter privily' and make merchandise of the church. Both Clarke and Wesley specify that the primary external threat comes from Judaizing teachers. The warning is urgent: Paul's departure removes a protective presence, and the elders must be watchful.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Literal departure (death or journey): Paul's statement 'you will see my face no more' (v.25) and his journey to Jerusalem where bonds await.
- External heresies only: The phrase 'enter in among you' and comparison to Matthew 7:15 suggests false prophets from outside.
- External and internal threats: Verse 30 explicitly mentions men arising from the elders' own number, so the wolves include both categories.
- Prophetic anachronism: Critical scholars see the warning as reflecting second-century church conflicts, not Paul's actual words.
What is clear: Whatever the exact timing or source, the church will face destructive false teachers after Paul's departure, and leaders must be vigilant.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of 'after my departure' | Both views see a real removal of Paul's protective presence. | Some commentators (e.g., Adam Clarke, Matthew Henry) take 'departure' as Paul's death; others (e.g., Cambridge Bible) argue it means his leaving Asia, with no return. |
| Who are the 'vicious wolves'? | All agree they are false teachers who damage the church. | Clarke and Wesley specify Judaizing Christians. The Cambridge Bible adds Gnostics and Nicolaitans. Gill and Barnes see a general category of greedy, dangerous teachers. |
| Are the wolves external or internal? | Both external and internal threats exist because verse 30 immediately warns of men from among themselves. | Some focus on the external source ('enter in among you' from outside), while others note that the internal threat is more insidious. |
| Is this a prophecy after the event? | Conservative commentators affirm Paul's genuine predictive knowledge. | Critical scholars (Baur, Zeller) argue the warning reflects later church struggles. The Cambridge Bible explicitly rejects this view, noting that false teachers were already evident. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Paul speaks to the Ephesian elders on the beach at Miletus, knowing he will never see them again (Acts 20:25). This farewell speech echoes Old Testament leaders like Moses (Deuteronomy 31) and Samuel (1 Samuel 12), who warn about future dangers after they are gone. The metaphor of wolves attacking sheep was vivid in a pastoral culture; a single wolf could devastate a flock. Paul had spent three years in Ephesus, warning 'night and day with tears' (v.31), so his prediction carries the weight of personal investment. The word ἄφιξις (aphixis) normally means 'arrival,' but here context forces the sense of 'departure', either Paul's death or his leaving Asia (the Cambridge Bible argues for the latter). False teachers were already active. Paul's letters to Timothy (also in Ephesus) mention Hymenaeus and Alexander (1 Timothy 1:19-20), and the Apocalypse later names Nicolaitans and other sects in Asia (Revelation 2-3). The elders are to be shepherds, guarding the flock that Christ purchased with His own blood (v.28).
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Acts 20:29. The oldest manuscripts omit the word 'this' after 'I know,' but the meaning is unaffected. The primary variant in the surrounding passage concerns Acts 20:28 (the phrase 'the Lord and God'), which does not bear on this verse.
Reception History
Throughout church history, Acts 20:29 has been a classic text for warning against false teachers and protecting congregational purity. Early church fathers like Irenaeus and Tertullian applied it to Gnostic heresies. During the Reformation, both Catholic and Protestant leaders used the verse to argue that their opponents were the 'grievous wolves.' In modern times, the verse is frequently cited in ordination charges and sermons on pastoral vigilance. The image of wolves has proven enduringly vivid, appearing in hymns and pastoral literature as a call to watchfulness grounded in God's word rather than human ability.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Certainty of the Threat. Paul says 'I know', not a vague suspicion. Based on his experience, the malignity of false teachers, and divine revelation, he is certain that grievous wolves will come. No faithful leader should be naive.
- The Characteristics of Wolves. They are 'heavy', strong, rapacious, unsparing. They do not care for the flock but exploit it. They come from outside (v.29) but also arise from within (v.30), speaking perverse things to draw disciples after themselves.
- The Call to Vigilance. 'Therefore watch' (v.31). Elders must be alert, remembering Paul's example of tears and teaching. The antidote to wolves is faithful shepherding and entrusting the church to God and the word of His grace (v.32).
Five-point outline
- Context of the Warning: Paul's departure leaves a gap. His presence had restrained attackers; now the flock is vulnerable.
- The Nature of the Wolves: Greedy, destructive, and deceptive, they may appear as teachers but their aim is the ruin of souls.
- The Scope of the Danger: External ('enter in among you') and internal ('of your own selves shall men arise').
- The Responsibility of Leaders: They must 'take heed' to themselves and to all the flock (v.28), and they must 'watch' (v.31).
- The Source of Strength: Paul entrusts them to God and the word of His grace, not to human strategy or courage.
Illustration hooks
- Sheep without a shepherd are easy targets, think of abandoned farm animals or a garden without a fence.
- Wolves often look like dogs, false teachers use familiar language but have predatory motives.
- After a pastor retires or moves, a church may be especially open to divisive influences. The warning is timeless.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How can we tell a true teacher from a false one before they do damage?
- Why does God allow false teachers to enter the church?
- What should we do if we suspect someone is teaching error?
Leading a Discussion
In Acts 20, Paul gives a tearful farewell to the Ephesian elders. He warns that after he leaves, vicious wolves will try to destroy the flock. This passage calls leaders and congregations to be watchful, grounded in the word, and reliant on God's grace.
Discussion questions
- Read Acts 20:28-32. What is the connection between the shepherd's self-care and the safety of the flock?
- What does the image of 'wolves' tell you about the character and intentions of false teachers?
- Paul says these wolves will 'not spare the flock.' What does that look like in practice, then and now?
- In verse 30, Paul warns of danger from within the church. Why is that more insidious than outside attack?
- How can a church prepare for the departure of a faithful leader? What safeguards should be in place?
- Paul 'did not cease to admonish everyone night and day with tears.' How does that shape your understanding of pastoral love and urgency?
- What is the 'word of his grace' (v.32), and how is it the ultimate protection against wolves?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Jeremiah 13:20 | Lift up your eyes, and see those who come from the north. Where is the flock that was given to you, your beautiful flock? |
| Jeremiah 23:1 | “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” says Yahweh. |
| Ezekiel 34:2 | “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy, and tell them, even the shepherds, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Shouldn’t the shepherds feed the sheep? |
| Ezekiel 34:3 | You eat the fat. You clothe yourself with the wool. You kill the fatlings, but you don’t feed the sheep. |
| Zephaniah 3:3 | Her princes within her are roaring lions. Her judges are evening wolves. They leave nothing until the next day. |
| Zechariah 11:17 | Woe to the worthless shepherd who leaves the flock! The sword will strike his arm and his right eye. His arm will be completely withered, and his right eye will be totally blinded!” |
| Matthew 7:15 | “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. |
| Matthew 10:16 | “Behold, I send you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke identifies the grievous wolves as Judaizing Christian teachers who claim to lead the flock but actually feed on it, bringing oppression and ruin. He also notes that Paul refers to his own death as the departure, for most of these evils arose after his lifetime, not during it.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes identifies the "grievous wolves" as strong, dangerous false teachers who will come from outside the church, likely hostile Jews pretending to be friends. He stresses that Paul's impending departure leaves the flock exposed, and these enemies aim not merely to disrupt but to destroy the church entirely.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin emphasizes that a pastor's presence actively restrains wicked forces, making the flock safer from wolves who would otherwise attack openly. His main warning is that when faithful pastors depart, the danger increases dramatically, and the sheep must become far more watchful than before.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
This commentator argues that Paul's warning about "grievous wolves" is a genuine, historically situated prediction, not a later addition. The phrase "after my departing" refers to Paul leaving Asia, not his death. The false teachers come from outside the church, and early signs of them were already present in Paul's day.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note warns that Paul foresees not just ordinary opposition but vicious false teachers who will attack the church after he leaves. These "grievous wolves" show no mercy to the believers, making the threat far more severe than external persecution.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill stresses that false teachers are like wolves in two ways: they enter secretly and without authority, and they harm the flock both materially by fleecing them and spiritually by poisoning them with error. Paul knew this by divine revelation, not mere suspicion.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB distinguishes two types of false teachers Paul warns against: external "grievous wolves" who ravage the flock for gain, and internal troublemakers who twist the truth to build a following. He identifies the first with early Gnostic ideas infecting Asia and the second with Judaizing tendencies that troubled the early churches.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Grievous [ βαρεις] . Lit., heavy : violent, rapacious.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley identifies the "grievous wolves" as false apostles coming from outside the church, not from within. He notes that at the time Paul spoke, these wolves had not yet broken into the church at Ephesus.