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.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "kick against the goads" isn't just a vivid idiom, but reveals Jesus' patient, persistent pursuit of Saul. It suggests God had been nudging Saul for some time, and his fierce persecution was like an ox stubbornly resisting the prick, only hurting itself more.
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.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
As Paul recounts his conversion story to King Agrippa, he’s explaining how he, a zealous persecutor of Christians, was dramatically transformed. This moment on the road to Damascus, where Jesus directly confronted him, is the turning point he uses to show how God called him to ministry, not despite his past, but because of it.
Imagine falling to the ground, blinded by light, and hearing a voice call your name. This wasn't just any voice; it was God Himself, speaking in the language that felt most like home.
The voice addressing Saul in Acts 26:14 spoke in the 'Hebrew tongue.' This detail is significant. While the New Testament was primarily written in Greek, and Paul often spoke Greek, Jesus chose Hebrew here. This highlights the personal, intimate nature of God's communication. He meets us where we are, using the language and cultural context that resonate most deeply with our identity. It wasn't a generic divine announcement, but a direct, personal intervention, calling Saul by name, recognizing his heritage and identity as a Hebrew. This shows God’s deep understanding and care for us, even in our moments of deepest error.
Have you ever felt like you were fighting a losing battle, pushing against something unmovable? The voice on the road to Damascus used a vivid image to show Saul the utter pointlessness of his opposition.
The phrase 'it is hard for you to kick against the goads' is a powerful metaphor. A goad was a sharp stick used to direct livestock, and kicking against it only caused pain to the animal without changing its course. Jesus uses this ancient proverb to illustrate the futility of Saul’s persecution. Saul thought he was serving God by attacking Christians, but he was actually fighting against God’s will and His chosen Messiah. This metaphor warns us that resisting God’s plan and His people is not only futile but self-destructive. God's purposes will ultimately prevail, and those who fight against Him will only bring harm upon themselves.
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Paul's dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus wasn't a random event but occurred during a period of intense persecution he himself was leading, highlighting his radical transformation from persecutor to apostle.
c. AD 33-36
Early persecution of Christians
Following Jesus' ascension, the early Christian movement faced intense opposition from Jewish religious authorities, leading to the persecution and arrest of believers in Jerusalem.
c. AD 33-36
Saul's zealous persecution
Saul of Tarsus, a fervent Pharisee, actively persecuted the followers of Jesus, imprisoning many and consenting to their deaths, believing he was serving God.
c. AD 33-36— this verse
Journey to Damascus
Saul set out for Damascus with official authority from the high priests to arrest any followers of 'the Way' found there.
c. AD 33-36
The Road to Damascus Encounter
On the road, Saul experienced a blinding light and heard a voice identifying itself as Jesus, directly challenging Saul's actions.
c. AD 36
Saul's conversion and blindness
The encounter left Saul blind for three days. He later regained his sight after Ananias, a disciple from Damascus, laid hands on him.
c. AD 36-44
Saul's early ministry and travels
After his conversion, Saul (later known as Paul) began preaching in Damascus and traveled to Arabia and Jerusalem, eventually becoming a key apostle.
God calls out to Moses from a burning bush, using his name directly and speaking in a way that demands attention, similar to how Jesus calls out to Saul by name.
1 Samuel 26:9David confronts Saul about persecuting him, asking 'Who is that, he said, would lay his hand on the Lord's anointed, and be guiltless?' This echoes the theme of attacking God's chosen.
Zechariah 2:8The Lord declares, 'For whoever touches you touches the apple of my eye,' showing God's deep personal connection and protectiveness over His people, which is why persecuting them is persecuting Him.
Matthew 25:40Jesus states that whatever is done for the 'least of these my brothers,' is done for Him, emphasizing the direct link between how believers are treated and how Jesus Himself is treated.
Galatians 1:15-16Paul recounts his own conversion, emphasizing that he was called by God's grace and set apart from birth, mirroring the divine intervention and purpose seen in the encounter on the Damascus road.
henryActs 26:12-23: "Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,"
26:12-23 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 t…
bengelActs 26:14: "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 26:14 . Τῇ Ἑβραΐδι διαλέκτῳ , in the Hebrew tongue ) Paul himself, in this instance, did not speak in Hebrew. For in ch. Acts 22:7 , which narrates the same incident, he did not, when speaking in Hebrew, add this, in the Hebrew language . The Hebrew language was the language of Christ…
The phrase "kick against the goads" isn't just a vivid idiom, but reveals Jesus' patient, persistent pursuit of Saul. It suggests God had been nudging Saul for some time, and his fierce persecution was like an ox stubbornly resisting the prick, only hurting itself more.
As Paul recounts his conversion story to King Agrippa, he’s explaining how he, a zealous persecutor of Christians, was dramatically transformed. This moment on the road to Damascus, where Jesus directly confronted him, is the turning point he uses to show how God called him to ministry, not despite his past, but because of it.
As Paul recounts his conversion story to King Agrippa, he’s explaining how he, a zealous persecutor of Christians, was dramatically transformed. This moment on the road to Damascus, where Jesus directly confronted him, is the turning point he uses to show how God called him to ministry, not despite his past, but because of it.
"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.’" — The phrase "kick against the goads" isn't just a vivid idiom, but reveals Jesus' patient, persistent pursuit of Saul. It suggests God had been nudging Saul for some time, and his fierce persecution w…
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Last reviewed October 2026