Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Acts: Chapter 20]
20:29 {After my departing} (\meta t•n aphixin mou\). Not his
death, but his departure from them. From \aphikneomai\ and
usually meant arrival, but departure in Herodotus IX. 17, 76 as
here. {Grievous wolves} (\lukoi bareis\). \Bareis\ is heavy,
rapacious, harsh. Jesus had already so described false teachers
who would raven the fold (Joh 10:12). Whether Paul had in mind
the Judaizers who had given him so much trouble in Antioch,
Jerusalem, Galatia, Corinth or the Gnostics the shadow of whose
coming he already foresaw is not perfectly clear. But it will not
be many years before Epaphras will come to Rome from Colossae
with news of the new peril there (Epistle to the Colossians). In
writing to Timothy (1Ti 1:20) Paul will warn him against some
who have already made shipwreck of their faith. In Re 2:2 John
will represent Jesus as describing false apostles in Ephesus.
{Not sparing the flock} (\m• pheidomenoi tou poimniou\). Litotes
again as so often in Acts. Sparing the flock was not the fashion
of wolves. Jesus sent the seventy as lambs in the midst of wolves
(Lu 10:3). In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus had pictured the
false prophets who would come as ravening wolves in sheep's
clothing (Mt 7:15).
20:30 {From among your own selves} (\ex hum•n aut•n\). In sheep's
clothing just as Jesus had foretold. The outcome fully justified
Paul's apprehensions as we see in Colossians, Ephesians, I and II
Timothy, Revelation. False philosophy, immorality, asceticism
will lead some astray (Col 2:8,18; Eph 4:14; 5:6). John will
picture "antichrists" who went out from us because they were not
of us (1Jo 2:18f.). There is a false optimism that is
complacently blind as well as a despondent pessimism that gives
up the fight. {Perverse things} (\diestrammena\). Perfect passive
participle of \diastreph•\, old verb to turn aside, twist,
distort as in Ac 13:8,10. {To draw away} (\tou aposp•in\).
Articular genitive present active participle of purpose from
\apospa•\, old verb used to draw the sword (Mt 26:51), to
separate (Lu 22:41; Ac 21:1). The pity of it is that such
leaders of dissension can always gain a certain following. Paul's
long residence in Ephesus enabled him to judge clearly of
conditions there.
20:31 {Wherefore watch ye} (\dio gr•goreite\). Paul has concluded
his defence of himself and his warning. Now he exhorts on the
basis of it (\dio\) because of which thing. The very command of
Jesus concerning the perils before his return as in Mr 13:35
http://www.ccel.org/r/robertson_at/wordpictures/htm/AC20.RWP.html (16 of 19) [28/08/2004 09:07:16 a.m.]