Acts 20:29Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

They too will be Ephesian Christians, but Christians who accepted Christianity hypocritically, for advantage, or through thoughtless enthusiasm. These men, wolves in sheep's clothing, did not dare show their impiety during the Apostle's lifetime. Thus the word of Christ is fulfilled: a man's enemies are those of his own household (Mt 10:36).

Concerning these wolves, Paul speaks prophetically: I know that after my departure from Asia, heretics will come to you, not sparing the flock, that is, not pitying the rational sheep of Christ. Even from among you there will appear such men as will teach heresies. They will draw Christ’s disciples away from the Church and advise them to follow themselves, thus forming separate assemblies.

This prophecy came to pass. Not only later, but even in the apostolic times, such heretics appeared and succeeded in corrupting many and drawing them to themselves.

Such were the false apostles exposed by the Church of Ephesus; the Nicolaitans, who held the teaching of Balaam and reached even the Church of Pergamum; the prophetess Jezebel, who deceived in the Church of Thyatira; and Hymenaeus and Alexander (Rev 2:1, 14, 20; 1 Tim 1:19-20), who fell away from the faith and blasphemed it.

Also among them were Hymenaeus and Philetus, who departed from the truth (2 Tim 2:17-18). To these must be added all those heretics who appeared afterward and deceived pious Christians.

Therefore, since the guilt for the destruction of any of you or of those you shepherd will rest not on me but on you, be attentive to yourselves and to all your spiritual flock. After I have fully proclaimed to you the will of God, you will have no excuse for such destruction in ignorance of Christian teaching. Remember that the Holy Spirit Himself has appointed you overseers, bishops, to shepherd the Church of the Lord and God, and to guide believers to salvation through teaching and governance. Remember that this is the Church of the Lord and God (cf. 1 Tim. 3:15). Remember, finally, that He acquired it for Himself as His inheritance (cf. Eph. 1:14), not with silver or gold, but with His Most Pure Blood (cf. 1 Cor. 6:20; 1 Pet. 1:18-19). Full spiritual vigilance is required of you as guardians and guides of the spiritual flock, especially because of the internal dangers threatening the Church. For I know that, after my departure from Asia, savage wolves will enter among you, not sparing the flock. And from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. This apostolic prediction concerning the appearance of false teachers in Ephesus, and in Asia Minor generally, was fulfilled. This is evident from his Epistles to the Ephesians and Colossians, written about three years later from his Roman imprisonment. At that time gnostic heretics had already begun to act in Asia Minor. A still greater strengthening of gnostic errors in Asia Minor may be observed somewhat later. This occurred between the first and second Roman imprisonments of the Apostle Paul, when he wrote the First Epistle to Timothy, bishop of the Church of Ephesus. It also appears during his second Roman imprisonment, when he wrote his Second Epistle to Timothy.

“Savage wolves, not sparing the flock.” The wolf is the enemy of sheep and domestic animals. The image of the wolf is the image of an enemy of a community represented under the image of a flock (Jn 10:12 and note). A savage wolf is a most dangerous enemy.

Who, then, are these dangerous enemies? They will come from outside, yet will enter the Christian community. Therefore the danger does not threaten from enemies wholly alien to the Church, such as pagans or Jews. Nor is the speech about external, political, future persecution from pagan authorities.

Under the name savage wolves one must here understand false teachers. Like wolves, they will tear and scatter the community of believers, and without any mercy. False teaching is worse for the community of believers than any external persecution. It corrupts and destroys the very soul of the community, while persecution destroys only the body and even strengthens the soul. All the persecutions of the primitive Church bear witness to this.

To avoid these dangers, the Apostle exhorts them to watch, as good shepherds watch when they desire to preserve the sheep entrusted to them. As an example, the Apostle points to how he himself watched for three years while instructing them. This was very difficult and was accompanied by many sorrows, even by tears. There is a twofold misfortune. On the one hand, he will not be present. On the other, some will attack; and what is especially bitter, they will arise from among your own selves to draw away disciples after themselves. The aim of heretics is to draw the people not to the Lord but to themselves, so as to flatter their own vainglory. Those drawn by them then bear the name of one heretic or another, as from Manes come Manichaeans, from Arius Arians, and others. Therefore, restraining their zeal, Paul rebukes and censures those who said, "I am of Paul," and "I am of Apollos" (1 Cor. 1:12). Therefore, in view of this danger, watch. To watch means the same as to take heed to yourselves and to all the flock (verse 28). The Apostle encourages them to such watchfulness by pointing also to his own personal activity.