September 2026

SCRIPTURAL POSITION 

 29"I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears." Acts 20:29-31 

 What Was Paul's Acts 20:29-31 Prophecy? 

 In this passage, Paul warned the Ephesian elders that savage wolves (false teachers) would infiltrate the church after his departure, and men from their own midst would arise to pervert the truth and draw disciples away. He urged them to remain vigilant and recall his three years of constant, tearful admonition to guard against these threats. 

Can you imagine what his hearers must have thought and felt upon hearing Paul’s words? Acts 20:37-38 says “. . . there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, 38being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again.” 

At the same time, they must have been shocked by Paul’s prediction that fierce wolves would come in among them, not sparing the flock and drawing away disciples after themselves. Perhaps worst of all, Paul predicted that these fierce wolves would arise from among themselves. Might their reactions have mirrored those of the Lord’s apostles upon hearing him say, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” (John 13:21) In utter disbelief, in turn they may have asked, “Is it I, Lord?” (Matthew 26:22). Paul’s warning must have seemed almost inconceivable. 

 Ephesus had been blessed with the finest of leadership. Pioneered by Paul himself, and then pastored by Timothy, Tychicus and even the Apostle John, taught by Aquila, Priscilla and Apollos, this primarily Gentile congregation was well taught in the scriptures. But with the passage of time, these pastors and teachers left the scene and were replaced by men without the same background in Torah. Simultaneously, Roman persecution of the Jews may have provided incentive for Gentile believers to distance themselves from Judaism. Also, the natural human tendency towards pride could have tempted some leaders to self-promotion. Under such circumstances, it is not hard to imagine that some congregations could become effective breeding grounds for “fierce wolves”. 

Revelation 2:4 states “. . . I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.” This is often taken to mean that the Ephesian church had lost its love for Christ. Is it not possible, rather, that the first love that had been lost was for the Torah? Without the benefit of strong Torah-trained leadership, with a desire to disassociate from their Jewish brethren and with a possible desire among leaders to make names for themselves, one could easily imagine a tendency to pursue their own thoughts, ideas and agendas rather than walk in God’s ways. Sadly, one could easily be reminded of the epitaph of the book of Judges – “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Judges 21:25