Lectionary Calendar
Saturday, May 3rd, 2025
the Second Week after Easter
Attention!
Take your personal ministry to the Next Level by helping StudyLight build churches and supporting pastors in Uganda.
Click here to join the effort!

Read the Bible

Lexham English Bible

Acts 26:14

And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Aramaic language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads!'

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Converts;   Court;   Damascus;   Defense;   Hebrew;   Minister, Christian;   Missions;   Paul;   Testimony;   Voice;   Zeal, Religious;   Thompson Chain Reference - Hebrew;   Paul;   The Topic Concordance - Gentiles/heathen;   Sending and Those Sent;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Language;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Pricks;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Paul the Apostle;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Heaven;   Ordination;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Paul;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Acts;   Goad;   Oration, Orator;   Paul;   Preaching in the Bible;   Presence of God;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Caesarea;   Damascus;   Nero;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Angels;   Arts;   Damascus, Damascenes;   Goad ;   Gospels (2);   Grafting;   Hebrews;   Herod;   Language of Christ;   Metaphor;   Paul;   Resurrection of Christ;   Tongue ;   Voice;   Voice (2);   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Goad;   Herod, Family of;   Pricks;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Festus;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Pricked;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Inspiration;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Ascension;   Bath Kol;   Games;   Goad;   Hard;   Kick;   Prick;   Sting;   Tongue;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for December 15;   My Utmost for His Highest - Devotion for January 28;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice speaking to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
King James Version (1611)
And when wee were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking vnto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kicke against the prickes.
King James Version
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.
English Standard Version
And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'
New American Standard Bible
"And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew dialect, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'
New Century Version
We all fell to the ground. Then I heard a voice speaking to me in the Hebrew language, saying, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? You are only hurting yourself by fighting me.'
Amplified Bible
"And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice in the Hebrew dialect (Jewish Aramaic) saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick [repeatedly] against the goads [offering pointless resistance].'
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew dialect, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'
Legacy Standard Bible
And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'
Berean Standard Bible
We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice say to me in Aramaic, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'
Contemporary English Version
We all fell to the ground. Then I heard a voice say to me in Aramaic, "Saul, Saul, why are you so cruel to me? It's foolish to fight against me!"
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!'
Darby Translation
And, when we were all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? [it is] hard for thee to kick against goads.
Easy-to-Read Version
We all fell to the ground. Then I heard a voice talking to me in Aramaic. The voice said, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? You are only hurting yourself by fighting me.'
Geneva Bible (1587)
So when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voyce speaking vnto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kicke against pricks.
George Lamsa Translation
When we all fell to the ground, then I heard a voice speaking unto me, in the Hebrew tongue (Ar-a-ma''ic), Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the pricks.
Good News Translation
All of us fell to the ground, and I heard a voice say to me in Hebrew, ‘Saul, Saul! Why are you persecuting me? You are hurting yourself by hitting back, like an ox kicking against its owner's stick.'
Literal Translation
And all of us falling to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me, and saying in the Hebrew dialect, Saul, Saul why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the prods.
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.
Bible in Basic English
And when we had all gone down on the earth, a voice came to me, saying in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why are you attacking me so cruelly? It is hard for you to go against the impulse which is driving you.
Hebrew Names Version
When we had all fallen to the eretz, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Sha'ul, Sha'ul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'
International Standard Version
All of us fell to the ground, and I heard a voice asking me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me? It is hurting you to keep on kicking against the goads.'
Etheridge Translation
And we fell all of us upon the earth; and I heard a voice that said to me in Hebrew, Shaol, Shaol, why persecutest thou me ? [fn] It is hard to thee to kick against the pricks !
Murdock Translation
And we all fell to the ground; and I heard a voice, which said to me, in Hebrew: Saul, Saul ! why persecutest thou me? It will be a hard thing for thee to kick against the goads.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And when we were all fallen to the earth, I hearde a voyce speakyng vnto me, and saying in the Hebrewe tongue: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is harde for thee to kicke agaynste the prickes.
English Revised 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.
World English Bible
When we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goad.'
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And when we were all fallen down to the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the goads.
Weymouth's New Testament
We all fell to the ground; and I heard a voice which said to me in Hebrew, "`Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? You are finding it painful to kick against the ox-goad.'
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And whanne we alle hadden falle doun in to the erthe, Y herde a vois seiynge to me in Ebrew tunge, Saul, Saul, what pursuest thou me? it is hard to thee, to kicke ayens the pricke.
Update Bible Version
And when we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? it is hard for you to kick against the goad.
Webster's Bible Translation
And when we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking to me, and saying in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? [It is] hard for thee to kick against the goads.
New English Translation
When we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? You are hurting yourself by kicking against the goads.'
New King James Version
And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'
New Living Translation
We all fell down, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is useless for you to fight against my will.'
New Life Bible
We all fell to the ground. Then I heard a voice speaking to me in the Jewish language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you working so hard against Me? You hurt yourself by trying to hurt Me.'
New Revised Standard
When we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It hurts you to kick against the goads.'
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
and, when we were all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice, saying unto me, in the Hebrew language - Saul! Saul! why, me, art thou persecuting? It is hard for thee, against goads, to be kicking!
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when we were all fallen down on the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me in the Hebrew tongue: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the good.
Revised Standard Version
And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It hurts you to kick against the goads.'
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
When we were all fallen to the erth I hearde a voyce speakynge vnto me and sayinge in ye Hebrue tonge: Saul Saul why persecutest thou me? It is harde for the to kicke agaynste the pricke.
Young's Literal Translation
and we all having fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew dialect, Saul, Saul, why me dost thou persecute? hard for thee against pricks to kick!
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But whan we were all fallen downe to the earth, I herde a voyce speakynge vnto me, and sayege in Hebrue: Saul Saul, why persecutest thou me? It shalbe harde for the to kycke agaynst the prycke.
Mace New Testament (1729)
we were all struck down: when I heard a voice directed to me pronounce these words in the Hebrew tongue, "Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute me? it is dangerous for thee to kick against the goad."
Simplified Cowboy Version
My companions and I all fell to the ground. I raised my head and heard a voice speak to me in Aramaic, 'Saul, Saul, why are you hell-bent on destroying me?'

Contextual Overview

12 In this activity I was traveling to Damascus with the authority and full power of the chief priests. 13 In the middle of the day along the road, O king, I saw a light from heaven, more than the brightness of the sun, shining around me and those who were traveling with me. 14 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Aramaic language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads!' 15 So I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?' And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But get up and stand on your feet, because for this reason I have appeared to you, to appoint you a servant and witness both to the things in which you saw me and to the things in which I will appear to you, 17 rescuing you from the people and from the Gentiles to whom I am sending you, 18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.' 19 "Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but to those in Damascus first, and in Jerusalem and all the region of Judea and to the Gentiles, I proclaimed that they should repent and turn to God, doing deeds worthy of repentance. 21 On account of these things the Jews seized me in the temple courts and were attempting to kill me.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

in: Acts 21:40, Acts 22:2

Saul: Acts 9:4, Acts 9:5, Acts 22:7-9

hard: Proverbs 13:15, Zechariah 2:8, Zechariah 12:2, 1 Corinthians 10:22

Reciprocal: Genesis 22:11 - Abraham Matthew 17:6 - General Luke 2:9 - and they John 19:20 - in Acts 9:7 - General Acts 22:8 - whom Acts 23:9 - if Romans 1:1 - Paul Revelation 16:16 - the Hebrew

Cross-References

Genesis 12:16
And he dealt well with Abram on account of her, and he had sheep, cattle, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels.
Genesis 13:2
Now Abram was very wealthy in livestock, in silver, and in gold.
Genesis 26:13
And the man became wealthier and wealthier until he was exceedingly wealthy.
Genesis 26:14
And he possessed sheep and cattle and many servants, so that the Philistines envied him.
Genesis 37:11
And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.
1 Samuel 18:9
So Saul was watching David with suspicion from that day onward.
Job 1:3
Then his livestock came to be seven thousand sheep and goats and three thousand camels and five hundred pairs of oxen and five hundred female donkeys, and he had very many slaves, and that man was greater than all the people of the east.
Job 5:2
For vexation will slay the fool, and jealousy will kill the simple.
Job 42:12
So Yahweh blessed Job's latter days more than his beginning. Thus he had fourteen thousand sheep and goats and six thousand camels and a thousand pair of oxen and a thousand female donkeys.
Psalms 112:3
Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And when we were all fallen to the earth,.... Saul, and the men that were with him, for fear of the divine Majesty, who by this extraordinary light was thought to be present: the other narratives only relate Saul's falling to the earth; how this is to be reconciled to their standing speechless, in Acts 9:7,

Acts 9:7- :.

I heard a voice speaking unto me, &c. Acts 9:7- :.

Acts 9:7- :.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See this passage explained in the notes on Acts 9:5, etc.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile