For ye were as sheep going astray (ἦτε γὰρ ὡς πρόβατα πλανώμενοι);
i.e., as commonly understood, ye were like straying sheep. But the ye were should be construed with the participle going astray, the verb and the participle together denoting habitual action or condition. Render, as Rev., ye were going astray like sheep. See on Mar 12:24.