Acts 26:14
When we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me in Hebrew, saying, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'
Additional Resources
Other Translations
King James Version 1769 (Standard 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.
KJV1611 – Modern English
And when we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking to me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? it is hard for you to kick against the pricks.
King James Version 1611 (Original)
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.
American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers
And{G1161} when we{G2257} were all{G3956} fallen{G2667} to{G1519} the earth,{G1093} I heard{G191} a voice{G5456} saying{G2980} unto{G4314} me{G3165} {G2532} {G3004} in the Hebrew{G1446} language,{G1258} Saul,{G4549} Saul,{G4549} why{G5101} persecutest{G1377} thou me?{G3165} it is hard{G4642} for thee{G4671} to kick{G2979} against{G4314} the goad.{G2759}
King James Version with Strong's Numbers
And{G1161} when we{G2257} were{G2667} all{G3956} fallen{G2667}{(G5631)} to{G1519} the earth{G1093}, I heard{G191}{(G5656)} a voice{G5456} speaking{G2980}{(G5723)} unto{G4314} me{G3165}, and{G2532} saying{G3004}{(G5723)} in the Hebrew{G1446} tongue{G1258}, Saul{G4549}, Saul{G4549}, why{G5101} persecutest thou{G1377}{(G5719)} me{G3165}? it is hard{G4642} for thee{G4671} to kick{G2979}{(G5721)} against{G4314} the pricks{G2759}.
Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)
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.
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.
Geneva Bible (1560)
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.
Bishops' 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.
Authorized King James Version (1611)
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.›
Webster's Bible (1833)
When we had all fallen to the earth, 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.'
Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)
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!
American Standard Version (1901)
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.
American Standard Version (1901)
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 (1941)
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.
World English Bible (2000)
When we had all fallen to the earth, 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.'
NET Bible® (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.’
Referenced Verses
- Acts 21:40 : 40 When the commander had given him permission, Paul stood on the steps and gestured to the crowd with his hand. When there was a great silence, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying:
- Acts 22:2 : 2 When they heard that he was speaking to them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet, and he said:
- Acts 9:7 : 7 The men traveling with him stood speechless; they heard the sound but saw no one.
- Acts 22:7-9 : 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 8 I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, the one you are persecuting.’ 9 Now those who were with me saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me.
- 1 Cor 10:22 : 22 Or are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He is?
- Prov 13:15 : 15 Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the treacherous leads to ruin.
- Zech 2:8 : 8 He said to him, 'Run and tell that young man: Jerusalem will be inhabited as a city without walls because of the multitude of people and livestock in it.'
- Zech 12:2 : 2 Behold, I am making Jerusalem a cup of reeling for all the surrounding nations. Even Judah will be besieged as Jerusalem is attacked.
- Acts 9:4-5 : 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" 5 He said, "Who are You, Lord?" The Lord replied, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads."
Similar Verses (AI)
These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.
- Acts 9:1-88 verses90%
1 But Saul, still breathing out threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, approached the high priest.
2 He requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
3 As he was traveling and nearing Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"
5 He said, "Who are You, Lord?" The Lord replied, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads."
6 Trembling and astonished, he said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" The Lord said to him, "Get up and go into the city, and it will be told to you what you must do."
7 The men traveling with him stood speechless; they heard the sound but saw no one.
8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes, he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus.
- Acts 22:2-1110 verses89%
2 When they heard that he was speaking to them in the Hebrew language, they became even more quiet, and he said:
3 I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city and educated at the feet of Gamaliel, strictly according to the law of our ancestors. I was zealous for God, just as all of you are today.
4 I persecuted this Way to the point of death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison.
5 As the high priest and the council of elders can testify, I even obtained letters from them to the brothers in Damascus and went there to bring back these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.
6 But as I was traveling and approaching Damascus, about noon, a bright light from heaven suddenly flashed around me.
7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’
8 I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, the one you are persecuting.’
9 Now those who were with me saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of the one who was speaking to me.
10 I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ The Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus. There you will be told everything that has been assigned for you to do.’
11 Since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me and went into Damascus.
- Acts 26:15-173 verses85%
15 I asked, 'Who are you, Lord?' And the Lord replied, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.'
16 But rise and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you: to appoint you as a servant and a witness of what you have seen and of what I will show you.
17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them,
- Acts 26:9-135 verses82%
9 Indeed, I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
10 And that is what I did in Jerusalem. I locked up many of the saints in prison, having received authority from the chief priests. And when they were condemned to death, I cast my vote against them.
11 I punished them often in all the synagogues, trying to force them to blaspheme. In my raging fury against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
12 In this pursuit, I was traveling to Damascus with the authority and commission from the chief priests.
13 At midday, O King, while I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those traveling with me.
- Acts 9:10-134 verses76%
10 There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." He replied, "Here I am, Lord."
11 The Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas, look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. For he is praying.
12 In a vision, he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so that he might regain his sight."
13 Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.
- Acts 22:13-142 verses75%
13 He came to me, stood by, and said, 'Brother Saul, regain your sight!' At that moment, I looked up and could see him.
14 Then he said, 'The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know His will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear words from His mouth.
- 74%
13 For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.
- Acts 22:17-215 verses73%
17 After I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance.
18 I saw Him saying to me, 'Hurry and leave Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about Me.'
19 But I said, 'Lord, they themselves know that I used to imprison and beat those who believed in You in the synagogues.
20 And when the blood of Your servant Stephen was being shed, I stood there, giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.'
21 Then He said to me, 'Go, because I am sending you far away to the Gentiles.'
- 73%
21 All who heard him were amazed and said, "Isn’t this the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And didn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?"
- 72%
23 They only heard the report: 'The one who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.'
- 72%
19 So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.
- Acts 9:15-184 verses72%
15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for this man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before Gentiles, kings, and the sons of Israel.
16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake."
17 Ananias went, entered the house, and after placing his hands on him, said, "Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming—has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
18 At once, something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized.
- 71%
21 For this reason, the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.
- 71%
9 But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, stared intently at him.
- 70%
27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He explained to them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road, that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus.
- 69%
57 At this they covered their ears and, shouting at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him.
- 69%
37 When they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?'