Acts 20:30Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

What is this thought? It is this: "From among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things." Someone may say, "Do you think so much of yourself that, if you depart, we shall be deprived of life?" No, he says, I am not saying that my absence will have such consequences. What then? "From among your own selves" some men will arise. He did not say, "because of my departure," but "after my departure," that is, after my going away, as has already happened before. If it has happened until now, it will happen all the more afterward. Then the aim is shown: "to draw away the disciples after themselves." Thus heresies arise for no other purpose than this.

Therefore, when all teachers have one aim, to preach the true faith and enrich the disciples while humbling themselves, they are called by the common name Christians. But if teachers distort anything in the doctrines of the Church, the disciples are named after the teacher, because the common name disappears.

They will teach heresies, draw Christ's disciples away from the Church, and advise them to follow themselves, thus forming separate assemblies. This prophecy was fulfilled. 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 doctrine 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 such were Hymenaeus and Philetus, who departed from the truth (2 Tim 2:17-18). To these must be added all those heretics who later appeared 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.

Yet there is also no doubt that this apostolic gaze could discern in the present what was still hidden from others less penetrating. The Apostle's prediction may have been based on what he saw and observed in the present and the recent past. During his long activity in Ephesus, and in Asia Minor generally, he could notice seeds hidden from others, from which dangerous fruits would grow in time. Ephesus was one of the central points of Asia Minor, where the religious and philosophical systems of East and West came into contact. The appearance of false teachings could be expected there more naturally than in any other place. When, about three years later, the Apostle wrote from his Roman imprisonment to the Church of Ephesus, false teachers had not yet appeared there. But they had already appeared, in an Essene-gnostic direction, in Colossae, a Phrygian city in Asia Minor. This is clear from Paul's Epistle to the Colossians, written at the same time. From the Apostle's Epistles to Timothy, bishop of Ephesus, we already see the appearance of such false teachers in Ephesus too. After this, one must look here for the false teachers against whom some of the apocalyptic letters of John the Theologian, the Epistle of Jude, and the First Epistle of John the Theologian are directed. Paul's prediction was fulfilled exactly. This prediction is set forth in general expressions, corresponding to the general character of Paul's prophetic contemplation.

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.