King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? [it is] hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
Complete Jewish Bible:
We all fell to the ground; and then I heard a voice saying to me, in Hebrew, ‘Sha’ul! Sha’ul! Why do you keep persecuting me? It’s hard on you to be kicking against the ox-goads!’
Berean Standard Bible:
We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice say to me in Hebrew, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
American Standard Version:
And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying unto me in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the goad.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And{G1161} when we{G2257} were{G2667} all{G3956} fallen{G2667} to{G1519} the earth{G1093}, I heard{G191} a voice{G5456} speaking{G2980} unto{G4314} me{G3165}, and{G2532} saying{G3004} in the Hebrew{G1446} tongue{G1258}, Saul{G4549}, Saul{G4549}, why{G5101} persecutest thou{G1377} me{G3165}? it is hard{G4642} for thee{G4671} to kick{G2979} against{G4314} the pricks{G2759}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Acts 21:40
- And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto [them] in the Hebrew tongue, saying,
Acts 9:7
- And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
Acts 22:2
- (And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)
Acts 9:4
- And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Acts 9:5
- And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: [it is] hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
Acts 22:7
- And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
Acts 22:9
- And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Acts 26:14
Acts 26:14 is part of the New Testament in the Bible and is set within the narrative of the Apostle Paul's defense before King Agrippa. This event occurs after Paul's arrest in Jerusalem, where he has been accused by the Jewish leaders of teaching against the Law and defiling the Temple. In this verse, Paul recounts his dramatic conversion experience on the road to Damascus, where he was traveling to persecute Christians.
The verse captures a pivotal moment in the life of Saul, who would later be known as Paul. As Saul is journeying with a group of men, they are all struck down by a brilliant light from heaven. In this moment of divine intervention, Saul hears a voice in the Hebrew language identifying itself as Jesus Christ. The voice confronts Saul directly, questioning why he is persecuting Jesus himself, and then delivers the enigmatic statement that it is "hard for thee to kick against the pricks."
This phrase, "kick against the pricks," is believed to refer to the ancient practice of prodding an ox or donkey with a goad (a sharp stick) to get it to move. If the animal kicked back against the goad, it would only hurt itself. Thus, the phrase metaphorically suggests that Saul's resistance to God's will is futile and self-destructive. It implies that Saul is fighting against a greater divine purpose, which he would be wise to surrender to and follow.
The historical context of this event is significant. Saul was a zealous Pharisee, deeply committed to the Jewish faith and law, and he saw the early Christian movement as a heretical threat that needed to be stamped out. His transformation from persecutor to apostle is one of the most dramatic in religious history and serves as a powerful testament to the transformative power of faith and the grace of God. This encounter leads to Paul's conversion and his subsequent mission to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, which is a central theme in the book of Acts and the spread of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: G1161
There are 2556 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: δέ
Transliteration: dé
Pronunciation: deh
Description: a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English). - Strong's Number: G2257
There are 365 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἡμῶν
Transliteration: hēmōn
Pronunciation: hay-mone'
Description: genitive case plural of ἐγώ; of (or from) us:--our (company), us, we. - Strong's Number: G2667
There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: καταπίπτω
Transliteration: katapíptō
Pronunciation: kat-ap-ip'-to
Description: from κατά and πίπτω; to fall down:--fall (down). - Strong's Number: G3956
There are 1075 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: πᾶς
Transliteration: pâs
Pronunciation: pas
Description: including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole:--all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), X daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever. - Strong's Number: G1519
There are 1513 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: εἰς
Transliteration: eis
Pronunciation: ice
Description: a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:--(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), …ward, (where-)fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively). - Strong's Number: G1093
There are 226 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: γῆ
Transliteration: gē
Pronunciation: ghay
Description: contracted from a primary word; soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe (including the occupants in each application):--country, earth(-ly), ground, land, world. - Strong's Number: G191
There are 448 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἀκούω
Transliteration: akoúō
Pronunciation: ak-oo'-o
Description: a primary verb; to hear (in various senses):--give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), (shall) hear(-er, -ken), be noised, be reported, understand. - Strong's Number: G5456
There are 129 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: φωνή
Transliteration: phōnḗ
Pronunciation: fo-nay'
Description: probably akin to φαίνω through the idea of disclosure; a tone (articulate, bestial or artificial); by implication, an address (for any purpose), saying or language:--noise, sound, voice. - Strong's Number: G2980
There are 271 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: λαλέω
Transliteration: laléō
Pronunciation: lal-eh'-o
Description: a prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. utter words:--preach, say, speak (after), talk, tell, utter. Compare λέγω. - Strong's Number: G4314
There are 674 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: πρός
Transliteration: prós
Pronunciation: pros
Description: a strengthened form of πρό; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e. pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of, i.e. near to; usually with the accusative case, the place, time, occasion, or respect, which is the destination of the relation, i.e. whither or for which it is predicated):--about, according to , against, among, at, because of, before, between, (where-)by, for, X at thy house, in, for intent, nigh unto, of, which pertain to, that, to (the end that), X together, to (you) -ward, unto, with(-in). In the comparative case, it denotes essentially the same applications, namely, motion towards, accession to, or nearness at. - Strong's Number: G3165
There are 277 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: μέ
Transliteration: mé
Pronunciation: meh
Description: a shorter (and probably original) form of ἐμέ; me:--I, me, my. - Strong's Number: G2532
There are 5212 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: καί
Transliteration: kaí
Pronunciation: kahee
Description: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet. - Strong's Number: G3004
There are 1244 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: λέγω
Transliteration: légō
Pronunciation: leg'-o
Description: a primary verb; properly, to "lay" forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas ἔπω and φημί generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while ῥέω is properly to break silence merely, and λαλέω means an extended or random harangue)); by implication, to mean:--ask, bid, boast, call, describe, give out, name, put forth, say(-ing, on), shew, speak, tell, utter. - Strong's Number: G1446
There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: Ἑβραΐς
Transliteration: Hebraḯs
Pronunciation: heb-rah-is'
Description: from Ἐβέρ; the Hebraistic (Hebrew) or Jewish (Chaldee) language:--Hebrew. - Strong's Number: G1258
There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: διάλεκτος
Transliteration: diálektos
Pronunciation: dee-al'-ek-tos
Description: from διαλέγομαι; a (mode of) discourse, i.e. "dialect":--language, tongue. - Strong's Number: G4549
There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: Σαούλ
Transliteration: Saoúl
Pronunciation: sah-ool'
Description: of Hebrew origin (שָׁאוּל); Saul (i.e. Shaul), the Jewish name of Paul:--Saul. Compare Σαῦλος. - Strong's Number: G5101
There are 483 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: τίς
Transliteration: tís
Pronunciation: tis
Description: probably emphatic of τὶς; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions):--every man, how (much), + no(-ne, thing), what (manner, thing), where (-by, -fore, -of, -unto, - with, -withal), whether, which, who(-m, -se), why. - Strong's Number: G1377
There are 43 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: διώκω
Transliteration: diṓkō
Pronunciation: dee-o'-ko
Description: a prolonged (and causative) form of a primary verb (to flee; compare the base of δειλός and διάκονος); to pursue (literally or figuratively); by implication, to persecute:--ensue, follow (after), given to, (suffer) persecute(-ion), press forward. - Strong's Number: G4642
There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: σκληρός
Transliteration: sklērós
Pronunciation: sklay-ros'
Description: from the base of σκέλος; dry, i.e. hard or tough (figuratively, harsh, severe):--fierce, hard. - Strong's Number: G4671
There are 204 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: σοί
Transliteration: soí
Pronunciation: soy
Description: dative case of σύ; to thee:--thee, thine own, thou, thy. - Strong's Number: G2979
There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: λακτίζω
Transliteration: laktízō
Pronunciation: lak-tid'-zo
Description: from adverb (heelwise); to recalcitrate:--kick. - Strong's Number: G2759
There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: κέντρον
Transliteration: kéntron
Pronunciation: ken'-tron
Description: from (to prick); a point ("centre"), i.e. a sting (figuratively, poison) or goad (figuratively, divine impulse):--prick, sting.
