I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing 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.
- BSB I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.
- NKJV For I know this, 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 7:15“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.
- 2 Pet 2:1But false prophets also arose among the people, as false teachers will also be among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master who bought them, bringing on themselves swift destruction.
- Acts 20:28Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood.
- Luke 10:3Go your ways. Behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.
- John 10:12He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who doesn’t own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep, and flees. The wolf snatches the sheep, and scatters them.
- Matt 10:16“Behold, I send you out as sheep among wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
- Zech 11:17Woe to the worthless shepherd who leaves the flock! The sword will be on his arm, and on his right eye. His arm will be completely withered, and his right eye will be totally blinded!”
- Jer 23:1“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” says Yahweh.
- Ezek 34:2–3Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and tell them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Shouldn’t the shepherds feed the sheep?
- Zeph 3:3Her princes within her are roaring lions. Her judges are evening wolves. They leave nothing until the next day.
- Jer 13:20Lift up your eyes, and see those who come from the north. where is the flock that was given you, your beautiful flock?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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.