Acts Chapter 26 · Verse 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.
Original Language Analysis
εἰς
to
G1519
εἰς
to
Strong's:
G1519
Word #:
5 of 27
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
τὴν
G3588
τὴν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
6 of 27
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
γῆν
the earth
G1093
γῆν
the earth
Strong's:
G1093
Word #:
7 of 27
soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe (including the occupants in each application)
φωνὴν
a voice
G5456
φωνὴν
a voice
Strong's:
G5456
Word #:
9 of 27
a tone (articulate, bestial or artificial); by implication, an address (for any purpose), saying or language
πρὸς
against
G4314
πρὸς
against
Strong's:
G4314
Word #:
11 of 27
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,
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
13 of 27
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
λέγουσαν
saying
G3004
λέγουσαν
saying
Strong's:
G3004
Word #:
14 of 27
properly, to "lay" forth, i.e., (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas g2036 and g5346 generally refer to an
τῇ
G3588
τῇ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
15 of 27
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Ἑβραΐδι
in the Hebrew
G1446
Ἑβραΐδι
in the Hebrew
Strong's:
G1446
Word #:
16 of 27
the hebraistic (hebrew) or jewish (chaldee) language
τί
why
G5101
τί
why
Strong's:
G5101
Word #:
20 of 27
an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions)
διώκεις
persecutest thou
G1377
διώκεις
persecutest thou
Strong's:
G1377
Word #:
22 of 27
compare the base of g1169 and g1249); to pursue (literally or figuratively); by implication, to persecute
σκληρόν
it is hard
G4642
σκληρόν
it is hard
Strong's:
G4642
Word #:
23 of 27
dry, i.e., hard or tough (figuratively, harsh, severe)
πρὸς
against
G4314
πρὸς
against
Strong's:
G4314
Word #:
25 of 27
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,
Cross References
Acts 21:40And 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 22:2(And when they heard that he spake in the Hebrew tongue to them, they kept the more silence: and he saith,)Acts 9:7And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
Historical Context
Paul recounts his conversion before King Agrippa II (AD 60) in Caesarea. This is the third account of the Damascus road experience in Acts (chapters 9, 22, 26), each tailored to its audience. The 'pricks' metaphor was familiar to Greek audiences, suggesting Luke preserves Paul's actual rhetorical adaptation to Agrippa's Hellenistic culture. Stephen's dying prayer and testimony (Acts 7:54-60) likely planted seeds of conviction that tormented Saul until this confrontation.
Questions for Reflection
- What convictions have you been 'kicking against' that may be God's goad redirecting your life?
- How does Christ's identification with persecuted believers ('why persecutest thou me?') shape how you view suffering for the faith?
Analysis & Commentary
When we were all fallen to the earth—Unlike the accounts in Acts 9 and 22, Paul here emphasizes that his entire traveling company fell prostrate, not merely himself, underscoring the overwhelming divine power present.
In the Hebrew tongue (τῇ Ἑβραΐδι διαλέκτῳ, tē Hebraidi dialektō)—More precisely Aramaic, the common language of Palestinian Jews. Christ addresses Saul in his native tongue, making the encounter intensely personal.
Why persecutest thou me? (τί με διώκεις; ti me diōkeis)—The present tense verb reveals ongoing persecution. Christ identifies so completely with His church that to persecute believers is to persecute Him directly (cf. Matthew 25:40).
Hard for thee to kick against the pricks (σκληρόν σοι πρὸς κέντρα λακτίζειν, sklēron soi pros kentra laktizein)—A Greek proverb about an ox kicking against the goad, injuring itself while resisting the farmer. Saul's persecution was self-destructive resistance to divine conviction, likely building since Stephen's martyrdom (Acts 7:58).