Acts 20:29

Mace New Testament

for I know when I am gone, you will be oppress'd by wolves, that will not spare the flock.

Parallel Translations

Simplified Cowboy Version
When I leave, wolves are coming, and they will go after the herd.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;

Legacy Standard Bible
I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;

Bible in Basic English
I am conscious that after I am gone, evil wolves will come in among you, doing damage to the flock;

Darby Translation
[For] *I* know [this,] that there will come in amongst you after my departure grievous wolves, not sparing the flock;

New King James Version
For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.

Christian Standard Bible®
I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.

World English Bible
For I know that after my departure, vicious wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For I know this, that after my departure grievous wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

Weymouth's New Testament
I know that, when I am gone, cruel wolves will come among you and will not spare the flock;

King James Version (1611)
For I know this, that after my departing shall grieuous wolues enter in among you, not sparing the flocke.

Literal Translation
For I know this, that after my departure grievous wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For this I knowe, that after my departinge there shal enter in amonge you greuous wolues, which shal not spare the flocke.

THE MESSAGE
"I know that as soon as I'm gone, vicious wolves are going to show up and rip into this flock, men from your very own ranks twisting words so as to seduce disciples into following them instead of Jesus. So stay awake and keep up your guard. Remember those three years I kept at it with you, never letting up, pouring my heart out with you, one after another.

Amplified Bible
"I know that after I am gone, [false teachers like] ferocious wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;

American Standard Version
I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock;

Revised Standard Version
I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
For I am sure of this that after my departynge shall greveous wolves entre in amonge you which will not spare the flocke.

Update Bible Version
I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock;

Webster's Bible Translation
For I know this, that after my departure grievous wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

Young's Literal Translation
for I have known this, that there shall enter in, after my departing, grievous wolves unto you, not sparing the flock,

New Century Version
I know that after I leave, some people will come like wild wolves and try to destroy the flock.

New English Translation
I know that after I am gone fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.

Berean Standard Bible
I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.

Contemporary English Version
I know that after I am gone, others will come like fierce wolves to attack you.

Complete Jewish Bible
I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you; and they won't spare the flock.

English Standard Version
I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;

Geneva Bible (1587)
For I knowe this, that after my departing shall grieuous wolues enter in among you, not sparing the flocke.

George Lamsa Translation
For I know this, that after I have departed, fierce wolves will attack you, which will not spare the flock.

Hebrew Names Version
For I know that after my departure, vicious wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

International Standard Version
I know that when I'm gone savage wolves will come among you and not spare the flock.Matthew 7:15; 2 Peter 2:1;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
For I know that after I shall have gone, there will enter with you furious wolves which will not spare the flock.

Murdock Translation
For I know, that after I am gone, fierce wolves will come in among you, and will have no mercy on the flock.

New Living Translation
I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock.

New Life Bible
"Yes, I know that when I am gone, hungry wolves will come in among you. They will try to destroy the church.

English Revised Version
I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock;

New Revised Standard
I know that after I have gone, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
I, know, that there will enter, after my departure, grievous wolves into your midst, not sparing the little flock;

Douay-Rheims Bible
I know that after my departure ravening wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

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

Lexham English Bible
I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
For I knowe this, that after my departyng, shall greeuous wolfes enter in among you, not sparyng the flocke.

Easy-to-Read Version
I know that after I leave, some men will come into your group. They will be like wild wolves and will try to destroy the flock.

New American Standard Bible
"I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;

Good News Translation
I know that after I leave, fierce wolves will come among you, and they will not spare the flock.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Y woot, that aftir my departyng, rauyschinge wolues schulen entre in to you, `and spare not the flok;

Contextual Overview

¹⁷ At Miletus he sent a message to the pastors of the church at Ephesus, to come to him: ¹⁸ and when they were arriv'd he told them, you know how I have always behav'd towards you from the first day of my arrival in Asia: ¹⁹ how I have serv'd the Lord with all resignation, with tears, and trials occasion'd by the insidious practices of the Jews: ²⁰ that I have conceal'd nothing that might be useful to you, but have inform'd you of it, and instructed you therein, both in publick and in private: ²¹ remonstrating both to Jews and Gentiles the advantages of a sincere repentance, and of believing ²² in our Lord Jesus Christ. but now I am fix'd in my resolution to go to Jerusalem, without any apprehension of what may befal me there: ²³ save what the holy spirit in every city declares, "that bonds and afflictions wait for me." ²⁴ things that little affect me, nor is life so much my concern, as to finish my course, and the charge I receiv'd from the Lord Jesus, to attest the declaration of the divine favour. ²⁵ and now I am persuaded you will none of you see my face any more: whilst I have been among you, I have proclaim'd the kingdom of the Messias: ²⁶ I therefore declare to you at this present time, that I am not responsible for the ruin of any:

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

wolves: Zephaniah 3:3, Matthew 7:15, Matthew 10:16, Luke 10:3, John 10:12, 2 Peter 2:1

not: Jeremiah 13:20, Jeremiah 23:1, Ezekiel 34:2, Ezekiel 34:3, Zechariah 11:17

Reciprocal: Genesis 49:27 - at night Joshua 24:31 - served 2 Chronicles 24:17 - Now after Psalms 100:3 - we are his Ecclesiastes 2:18 - I should Song of Solomon 5:7 - watchmen Isaiah 56:11 - they are Jeremiah 23:4 - I Jeremiah 31:10 - and keep Ezekiel 34:5 - and they became Daniel 11:34 - cleave Mark 13:34 - and commanded Luke 6:49 - against Acts 20:28 - all 1 Corinthians 4:8 - without Philippians 1:24 - General 2 Thessalonians 2:7 - doth Titus 1:10 - there 1 John 2:18 - ye have 1 John 2:26 - concerning 1 John 4:1 - many

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For I know this - By what he had seen in other places; by his knowledge of human nature, and of the dangers to which they were exposed; and by the guidance of inspiration.

After my departure - His presence had been the means of guarding the church, and preserving it from these dangers. Now that the founder and guide of the church was to be removed, they would be exposed to dissensions and dangers.

Grievous wolves - Heavy βαρεῖς bareis, strong, mighty, dangerous wolves - so strong that the feeble flock would not be able to resist them. The term “wolves” is used to denote “the enemies of the flock - false, and hypocritical, and dangerous teachers.” Compare Matthew 10:16.

Enter in among you - From abroad; doubtless referring particularly to the Jews, who might be expected to distract and divide them.

Not sparing the flock - Seeking to destroy the church. The Jews would regard it with special hostility, and would seek to destroy it in every way. Probably they would approach them with great professed friendship for them, and expressing a desire only to defend the laws of Moses.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 29. After my departing — Referring, most likely, to his death; for few of these evils took place during his life.

Grievous wolves — Persons professing to be teachers; Judaizing Christians, who, instead of feeding the flock, would feed themselves, even to the oppression and ruin of the Church.