Acts 20:30
What does Acts 20:30 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 20:30 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 20:30 means
The danger is not only from outside. From among the elders themselves, some will arise speaking distorted things to draw away disciples after them. This is a sober warning: leadership circles are not immune to ambition or error. The test of a teacher is fidelity to the apostolic gospel and the aim of building up the church, not gathering a personal following. Elders must guard their own hearts, hold fast to sound doctrine, and correct those who swerve. The verse reminds the church to measure leaders by truth and character, not charisma, and to maintain accountability within leadership.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and from among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and from among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And from among yourselves will come men who will give wrong teaching, turning away the disciples after them.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and of your own selves there shall arise men, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And of your own selves shall arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890and from among your own selves shall rise up men speaking perverted things to draw away the disciples after them.
Context
After warning about external wolves (verse 29), Paul turns to internal subversion. This prepares for his plea in verse 31 to keep watch, recalling his own persistent, tearful admonitions. The warning also makes his commendation to God and the word of grace (verse 32) all the more necessary. The elders will need divine help and the stabilizing power of the gospel to withstand both assaults and seductions that could fracture the flock.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Timothy 1:19
holding faith and a good conscience; which some having thrust from them made shipwreck concerning the faith:
- Acts 11:26
and when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that even for a whole year they were gathered together with the church, and taught much people; and that the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
- 2 Peter 2:18
For, uttering great swelling words of vanity, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by lasciviousness, those who are just escaping from them that live in error;
- Acts 21:38
Art thou not then the Egyptian, who before these days stirred up to sedition and led out into the wilderness the four thousand men of the Assassins?
- Matthew 26:21
and as they were eating, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
- 1 Corinthians 1:12
Now this I mean, that each one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
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