Acts 20:29

29 I know that after my departure ravening wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

Acts 20:29 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 20:29

For I know this
By divine revelation:

that after my departing;
either out of this world, or after his leaving them now, and proceeding on, his journey:

shall grievous wolves enter in among you;
false teachers, comparable to wolves, for their craft and cunning, and for their greedy, covetous, and voracious dispositions; and who would be very grievous, troublesome, and even intolerable to them; these, he knew, would enter privily, at an unawares, into their churches, and set up themselves for preachers, without being called or sent:

not sparing the flock;
fleecing it instead of feeding it, making merchandise of it, and like the Pharisees, under religious pretences, devour widows' houses, and drain the purses of men; and having as little compassion upon their souls, poisoning them with their errors and heresies, subverting their faith, and bringing them into swift ruin and destruction, as much as would in them lie.

Acts 20:29 In-Context

27 For I have not spread to declare unto you all, the counsel of God.

28 Take heed to yourselves and to the whole flock, wherein the Holy Ghost hath placed you bishops, to rule the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood.

29 I know that after my departure ravening wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

30 And of your own selves shall arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

31 Therefore watch, keeping in memory that for three years I ceased not with tears to admonish every one of you, night and day.