• Acts 26:14
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures

    • 14 πάντων of all (ones) τε and καταπεσόντων having fallen down ἡμῶν of us εἰς into τὴν the γῆν earth ἤκουσα I heard φωνὴν voice λέγουσαν saying πρός toward με me τῇ to the ᾿Εβραΐδι Hebrew διαλέκτῳ language Σαούλ Saul Σαούλ, Saul, τί why με me διώκεις; are you persecuting? σκληρόν Hard σοι to you πρὸς toward κέντρα goads λακτίζειν. to be kicking.

  • Acts 26:14
    The Bible in Living English

    • 14 and as we all threw ourselves down on the ground I heard a voice say to me in the Hebrew dialect ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? it comes hard on you to kick against a goad.’

  • Acts 26:14
    American Standard Version

    • 14 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.

  • Acts 26:14
    The Emphasized Bible

    • 14 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!

  • Acts 26:14
    King James Version

    • 14 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.

  • Acts Study Notes—Chapter 26
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)

    • 26:14

      in the Hebrew language: See study note on Joh 5:2.

      kicking against the goads: A goad is a pointed rod used to urge on an animal. (Jg 3:31) The expression “to kick against the goads” is a proverb found in Greek literature. It is based on the image of a stubborn bull that resists the prodding of the goad by kicking against it, resulting in injury to the animal. Saul behaved in a similar manner before becoming a Christian. By fighting against Jesus’ followers, who had the backing of Jehovah God, Paul risked causing serious injury to himself. (Compare Ac 5:38, 39; 1Ti 1:13, 14.) At Ec 12:11, “oxgoads” are mentioned in a figurative sense, referring to a wise person’s words that move a listener to follow counsel.