Amplified Bible
Acts 26:14
14And 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].’
Acts 26:14 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
- English Standard Version (ESV)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 King James Version (NKJV)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.’
Context of Acts 26:14
12“While so engaged, as I was traveling to Damascus with the authority and commission and full power of the chief priests, 13at midday, O King, I saw on the way a light from heaven surpassing the brightness of the sun, shining all around me and those who were traveling with me. 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].’ 15And I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16Get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you [to serve] as a minister and as a witness [to testify, with authority,] not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you,
Read all of Acts 26Acts 26:14 word by word
πάντων τε καταπεσόντων ἡμῶν εἰς τὴν γῆν ἤκουσα φωνὴν λέγουσαν πρός με τῇ Ἑβραΐδι διαλέκτῳ· Σαοὺλ Σαούλ, τί με διώκεις; σκληρόν σοι πρὸς κέντρα λακτίζειν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andδέde · thenG1161
- when weἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- were allπᾶςpas · allG3956
- fallenκαταπίπτωkatapiptō · to fall downG2667
- toεἰςeis · towardG1519
- the earthὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the earthγῆgē · earth: soilG1093
- I heardἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
- a voiceφωνήphōnē · voice/sound: voiceG5456
- speakingλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
- untoπρόςpros · to/withG4314
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- in the HebrewἙβραΐςHebrais · HebrewG1446
- tongueδιάλεκτοςdialektos · languageG1258
- SaulΣαούλSaoul · SaulG4549
- whyτίςtis · which?G5101
- persecutestδιώκωdiōkō · to pursueG1377
- hardσκληρόςsklēros · hardG4642
- for theeσύsu · youG4771
- to kickλακτίζωlaktizō · to kickG2979
- the pricksκέντρονkentron · stingG2759
Cross-references for Acts 26:14
- Acts 21:40When the commander had given him permission, Paul, standing on the steps, gestured with his hand to the people; and when there was a great hush, he spoke to them in the Hebrew dialect (Jewish Aramaic), saying,
- Acts 22:2When they heard that he was addressing them in the Hebrew dialect, they became even more quiet. And he continued,
- Acts 9:4and he fell to the ground and heard a voice [from heaven] saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting and oppressing Me?”
- Acts 22:7And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’
- Proverbs 13:15Good understanding wins favor [from others], But the way of the unfaithful is hard [like barren, dry soil].
- Zechariah 2:8For thus says the Lord of hosts, “After glory He has sent Me against the nations which plunder you—for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye.
- Zechariah 12:2“Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes reeling (staggering) to all the surrounding peoples; and when the siege is against Jerusalem, it will also be against Judah.
- 1 Corinthians 10:22Do we [really] provoke the Lord to jealousy [when we eat food sacrificed to handmade “gods” at pagan feasts]? Are we [spiritually] stronger than He? [Certainly not! He knows that the idols are nothing. But we deeply offend Him.]
Commentaries on Acts 26:14
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12-15Verses 12-15 See this passage explained in the notes on Acts 9:5, etc.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-23Verses 12-23 Paul was made a Christian by Divine power; by a revelation of Christ both to him and in him; when in the full career of his sin. He was made a minister by Divine authority: the same Jesus who appeared to him in that glorious light, ordered him to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. A world that sits in darkness must be enlightened; those must be brought to know the things that belong to their everlasting peace, who are yet ignorant of them. A…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12-18See 9:1–18.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 9-159-15. (See on Ac 9:1, &c.; and compare Ac 22:4, &c.)Read the comment
Topics related to Acts 26:14
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Acts 26
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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