The Book of Acts ~ Study Sixty-Four

"Watch Out For Wolves"


Acts 20:13-38 (NLT) Paul went by land to Assos, where he had arranged for us to join him, while we traveled by ship. He joined us there, and we sailed together to Mitylene. The next day we sailed past the island of Kios. The following day we crossed to the island of Samos, and a day later we arrived at Miletus.
   Paul had decided to sail on past Ephesus, for he didn’t want to spend any more time in the province of Asia. He was hurrying to get to Jerusalem, if possible, in time for the Festival of Pentecost. But when we landed at Miletus, he sent a message to the elders of the church at Ephesus, asking them to come and meet him.
   When they arrived he declared, “You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews. I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes. I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus.
   “And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.
   “And now I know that none of you to whom I have preached the Kingdom will ever see me again. I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it’s not my fault, for I didn’t shrink from declaring all that God wants you to know.
   “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders. I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following. Watch out! Remember the three years I was with you—my constant watch and care over you night and day, and my many tears for you.
   “And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself.
   “I have never coveted anyone’s silver or gold or fine clothes. You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and even the needs of those who were with me. And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
   When he had finished speaking, he knelt and prayed with them. They all cried as they embraced and kissed him good-bye. They were sad most of all because he had said that they would never see him again. Then they escorted him down to the ship.

During Paul's stay in Ephesus, he had grown very close to the believers there. He knew it was time to say good-bye and had all the elders from there come to him one last time before he went on to Jerusalem. It's obvious that he cared for them deeply. He warned them of false teachers coming in a distorting God's truth with lies. He called them "savage wolves" who would not spare the flock.

We too should be on guard for false teaching in our churches. How can we know what is false and what is not? We should be in God's Word daily and in prayer constantly to help us be aware of such things. Whoever speaks and leads at our churches should be people who meet the standards set in the Bible and not stray from the Word of God.


2 Corinthians 11:3-4 (NLT) But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.


Galatians 1:4-7 (NLT) I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.

How closely do you listen to those who proclaim to know the truth about the bible? It is imperative that our leaders within the churches screen what is being preached in individual churches. We too, as believers, should filter what we hear by what we know is true. It is also imperative that the leaders in our churches live lives above reproach. There cannot even be a hint of impropriety.

Titus 1:7-9 (NLT) For an elder must live a blameless life. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker, violent, or dishonest with money.
   Rather, he must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must love what is good. He must live wisely and be just. He must live a devout and disciplined life. He must have a strong belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong.

Just because someone is a pastor doesn't mean that he is living a life above reproach. That is what the elders in the church are for. They must hold him accountable for his actions. That is their job. They must also know the bible well and be in constant prayer. If there is an appearance of impropriety in any pastor then they should hold him accountable and correct him if possible. If they don't then a door is wide open for damage to those who are shepherded by this pastor. The same holds true for anyone in authority in a church.

Titus 2:11-14 (NLT) For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.

Our lives should always point others to Jesus. Those in authority over the churches must be above reproach and live out their lives directing others to live pure and holy lives for Christ Jesus. Time is too short to waste on teachers and preaches that don't direct their congregations to know more and more about the One Who loves us most. It is all by God's grace that we even have our next breath. Let's pay attention to what is happening in our churches and strengthen ourselves on the true Word of God. May God unite the Body of Christ ~ The Church because times will only get tougher as the world continues to reject the Way to God through Jesus the Christ.