Acts 20:29

For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

Acts 20:29 (KJV)

Context

The book of Acts, written by Luke, records the spread of the gospel and the growth of the early church. In Acts 20, Paul is at Miletus, bidding farewell to the Ephesian elders. He knows from the Holy Spirit that imprisonment and afflictions await him, and he declares that they will see his face no more. This parting speech is therefore a final, urgent charge to the leaders he has nurtured.

Meaning

Paul speaks with certainty: “For I know this.” His knowledge is not mere suspicion but divine revelation, given by the Holy Spirit. The “grievous wolves” are false teachers who will enter the church after Paul leaves. In Scripture, wolves often picture dangerous enemies of the flock. These wolves are “grievous” because they are fierce, destructive, and merciless. “Not sparing the flock” means they will show no compassion; their goal is to exploit and harm believers, not to shepherd them.

Paul’s warning is not primarily about external persecution but about internal corruption. In the following verse, he adds that even from among the elders themselves, men will arise speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them. The danger is not only from outside but also from within the church’s own leadership.

Biblical connections

Paul’s metaphor of wolves echoes Jesus’ warning about false prophets who come in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves (Matthew 7:15). Jesus also contrasts the hired hand, who flees when the wolf comes, with the good shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep (John 10:11-13). Paul, like the good shepherd, had warned the Ephesians “night and day with tears” for three years. His departure would leave the flock vulnerable, but he had faithfully prepared them.

Application

Christians today must be alert to false teachers who distort the gospel and exploit believers. The church is called to test teachings and leaders against the standard of God’s Word. This requires discernment, sound doctrine, and a commitment to truth. Elders and pastors have a special responsibility to guard the flock, but every believer shares in the duty to recognize and resist destructive influences.

Paul’s warning also encourages believers to remain steadfast. In the verses that follow, he commends the elders to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build them up and give them an inheritance among all sanctified. God’s Word and Spirit provide the guidance and protection needed to stand against those who would distort the truth.

Reflection

Acts 20:29 reminds us that the church has always faced dangers from within and without. Yet God remains faithful to His people. He supplies shepherds, His Word, and His Spirit to guard the flock. Believers are called to vigilance, but also to trust in the One who keeps His own. The presence of wolves does not nullify God’s promise to build His church; it calls us to watchfulness and prayer.