The dangers that would assail the church at Ephesus were revealed to the apostle. "I know this," he said, "that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." Paul trembled for the church as, looking into the future, he saw the attacks which she must suffer from both external and internal foes. With solemn earnestness he bade his brethren guard vigilantly their sacred trusts. For an example he pointed them to his own unwearied labors among them: "Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn everyone night and day with tears.

De farer, som ville angribe menigheden i Efesus, stod klart for apostlen. "Jeg ved," sagde han, "at efter min bortgang skal der iblandt jer komme glubske ulve, som ikke vil spare hjorden. Og af jeres egen midte skal der fremstå mænd, som fører falsk tale for at drage disciplene efter sig." Paulus var bekymret for menigheden, da han ved at se ind i fremtiden så de angreb, den måtte tåle fra ydre og indre fjender. Alvorligt og højtideligt bad han brødrene vogte deres hellige hverv uden at trættes. Som et eksempel bad han dem huske sit eget utrættelige arbejde iblandt dem: "Vær derfor årvågne og kom i hu, at jeg i de tre år, nat og dag, er blevet ved med at påminde hver enkelt med tårer."