I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.
Parallel translations
- WEB For I know that after my departure, vicious wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
- KJV For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
- NKJV For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.
- NASB I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;
- NLT I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul warns that after his departure fierce wolves will enter and ravage the flock. He alerts the elders to coming danger from without.
Overview
Using the familiar image of wolves attacking sheep, Paul foretells the arrival of destructive false teachers and persecutors. The warning charges the elders to be vigilant defenders of the truth. Christ, the Good Shepherd, entrusts His sheep to undershepherds who must guard them against all that would devour their faith.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Matt 7:15Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
- 2 Pet 2:1Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.
- Acts 20:28Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.
- Luke 10:3Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.
- John 10:12The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock.
- Matt 10:16Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
- Zech 11:17Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May a sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be completely withered and his right eye utterly blinded!”
- Jer 23:1“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!” declares the LORD.
- Ezek 34:2–3“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who only feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed their flock?
- Zeph 3:3Her princes are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves, leaving nothing for the morning.
- Jer 13:20Lift up your eyes and see those coming from the north. Where is the flock entrusted to you, the sheep that were your pride?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 20:29 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.