Charles Ellicott Commentary Acts 20:29

"I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock;" — Acts 20:29 (ASV)

After my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you.—The figurative language followed naturally from the idea of the flock and of the shepherds who keep watch over it. Naturally, the wolf primarily stands for the open enemies of the flock, the persecutors of all ages. (Compare to John 10:12.) The wolves, however, might come in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15), and so the false prophets, the usurpers of authority, and leaders of parties within the Church, are also included in the term. Here, this latter class is distinctly pointed out in the following verse. We find traces of the fulfillment of the prediction in the “turning away” of 2 Timothy 1:15; the “fiery trial” of 1 Peter 1:7; 1 Peter 4:12; the suffering “as a Christian” of 1 Peter 4:16.