Commentaries Dictionaries Concordances

The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

Acts 26:14

ACTS—NOTE ON Acts 26:14 The Hebrew language most likely refers to Aramaic (see esv footnote). To kick against the goads is a proverbial statement the Romans probably knew. It means that one cannot ultimately resist God’s will. Goads were sharp sticks used to prod oxen. If the oxen kicked in resistance, the drivers would keep them in line by poking them more severely.

⇐ ⇔ ⇒
Continues after advertising

See also Acts 26:14 in other biblical comments:

  • A Textual Commentary On The Greek New Testament by Bruce M. Metzger

    ACTS 26:14 gh/n After eivj th.n gh/n the Western text (614 1611 2147 itgig syrhmg) adds dia. to.n fo,bon evgw. mo,noj (“when we had all fallen to the ground _on account of fear, only I_ heard …”)....

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    See this passage explained in the notes on Acts 9:5, etc....

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 26 __ 1. The Address of the Apostle Paul (Acts 26:2). 2. The Interruption by Festus and the Appeal to the King (Acts 26:24). 3. The Verdict (Acts 26:30). The opening words of the Apostle a...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    PAUL SPEAKS BEFORE AGRIPPA. It is Agrippa the vassal king, not Festus the representative of the sovereign power, who calls on Paul to speak, and to whom Paul addresses himself throughout, even after t...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE DEFENCE OF A CHANGED MAN (Acts 26:1-11)...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    "When, in these circumstances, I was on my way to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, as I was on the road at midday, I saw, your Majesty. a light from heaven, more brillian...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    FALLEN. fallen down. Greek. _katapipto._ Only here and Acts 28:6. EARTH. Greek. _ge_. App-129. SPEAKING. Greek. _lalo._ App-121., but the texts read "saying" (_lego_). AND SAYING. The texts omit....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying_ The oldest MSS. have only "a voice saying unto me." Saul alone gathered the import of what was said. His companions only heard the sound, not the words....

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    Acts 26:1-23. PAUL’S DEFENCE BEFORE AGRIPPA...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΛΈΓΟΥΣΑΝ ΠΡΌΣ ΜΕ with אABCI omitting καὶ λέγουσαν afterwards. The _Vulg_. has only ‘loquentem mini.’ 14. ἬΚΟΥΣΑ ΦΩΝῊΝ ΛΈΓΟΥΣΑΝ ΠΡΌΣ, _I heard a voice saying unto me_. Saul alone gathered the import o...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _PAUL'S CONVERSION AND COMMISSION ACTS 26:12-18:_ Paul was on my way to Damascus with the authority from the chief priests when he saw a bright light and heard a voice from heaven. He came to realize...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΚΑΤΑΠΕΣΌΝΤΩΝ _aor. act. part._ ΡM КАΤΑΠΊΠΤΩ (G2667) падать ниц. Обычная реакция на откровение. _Gen. abs._ ΉΚΟΥΣΑ _aor. ind. act. от_ ΆΚΟΎΩ (G191) слышать, с _асс._ ΛΈΓΟΥΣΑΝ _praes. act. part. (adj.)...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    TO KICK AGAINST THE PRICKS.— Or, _Against the goad._...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    f. Paul's defense before King Agrippa. Acts 25:13 bActs 26:32. Acts 25:13 Now when certain days were passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea, and saluted Festus....

  • Combined Bible Commentary

    See notes on verse 12...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    __ 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. N...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    1 King Agrippa was a notable figure throughout the closing period of Jewish national life. He was the last prince of the Herodian line. Unlike the Roman governors, who were frequently replaced and mos...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    26:14 voice (a-13) As ch. 9.4 (accusative)....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    DEFENCE BEFORE AGRIPPA 1-32. St. Paul before Agrippa. This speech, though in form a defence to the Jews, is really intended by St. Luke to be St. Paul's defence to the world—an apology for his whole...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOOD NEWS FOR EVERYONE ACTS _MARION ADAMS_ CHAPTER 26 PAUL SPEAKS TO KING AGRIPPA, 26:1-11 V1 Agrippa told Paul, ‘You may now speak for yourself.’ Paul waved his hand. He said, V2 ‘King Agrippa,...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    IT IS HARD FOR THEE TO KICK AGAINST THE PRICKS. — See Note on Acts 9:5. Here there is no doubt as to the genuineness of the reading....

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    See notes on Acts 9:7 and Acts 22:7, and reading above in β. τῇ Ἑβραΐδι διαλ.: this is intimated in Acts 9:4 and Acts 22:7 by the form Σαούλ, but here the words are inserted because Paul

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    OBEDIENT TO HIS HEAVENLY VISION Acts 26:12 Nowhere else is there such deliverance from the glare and cross-lights of earth as is afforded by a vision of the face of Jesus, brighter than the sun at no...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Agrippa intimated to Paul that he might speak, and the apostle spent a moment in introductory words, and then uttered his great apologia, in which a twofold purpose is evident, first, his own defense,...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    Paul's Account of His Conversion and Life Following On his way to Damascus in pursuit of more Christians, Paul reported that he saw a great light, which was brighter than the sun, coming out of heaven...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    It is generally supposed that St. Paul addresses king Agrippa in the Greek language, which was the common tongue of a great part of the East. (Bible de Vence)...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently. (4) My manner of life from my youth, which was at the...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    The closing Chapter s from 21 to the end of the book are devoted to an episode full of interest and profit Paul's course from Jerusalem to Rome. And here we find ourselves in an atmosphere considerabl...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _THE VOICE FROM HEAVEN_ ‘I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying … It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.’ Acts 26:14 So far as we know, those words were the first with which the sile...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Paul's address to king Agrippa furnishes us with the most complete picture of the entire position of the apostle, as he himself looked at it when his long service and the light of the Holy Ghost illum...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND WHEN WE WERE ALL FALLEN TO THE EARTH,.... Saul, and the men that were with him, for fear of the divine Majesty, who by this extraordinary light was thought to be present: the other narratives only...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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. Ver...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Whereupon, as I went to Damascus_, &c. See notes on Acts 9:3, and Acts 22:5; where the substance of this paragraph occurs, and is explained. _At mid-day, O king_ Most seasonably, in the height of the...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Paul's recital of his miraculous conversion:...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    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....

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    At Agrippa's invitation to him to speak, Paul is fully prepared. He expresses his happiness at being privileged to answer for himself to the king, especially because he knew Agrippa to be an expert in...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    AND WHEN WE ALL HAD FALLEN TO THE GROUND, I HEARD A VOICE SPEAKING TO ME AND SAYING IN THE HEBREW LANGUAGE, " SAUL, SAUL, WY ARE YO PERSECUTING ME? IT IS HARD FOR YOU TO KICK AGAINST THE GOADS. " 1....

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    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 a...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    IN THE HEBREW TONGUE; whereby it appears, that Paul spake not now before Agrippa in the Hebrew tongue, as he did before the Jews at Jerusalem, ACTS 21:40. IT IS HARD FOR THEE TO KICK AGAINST THE PRICK...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Epistle of Ignatius to the Philadelphians "It is hard to kick against the pricks; "[73]...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Acts 26:14 And G1161 we G2257 all G3956 fallen G2667 (G5631) to G1519 ground G1093 heard G191 ...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    “Whereupon as I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests, at midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round ab...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Acts 26:14. AND WHEN WE WERE ALL FALLEN TO THE EARTH. See note on Acts 9:7, where the apparent discrepancy between the two accounts is discussed. I HEARD A VOICE SPEAKING UNTO ME, AND SAYING IN THE...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    _Paul's Defence of Christianity before King Agrippa, his Sister, and the Procurator Festus,_ 1-23. This famous _apologia_ of St. Paul consists of four divisions. The first, Acts 26:2-3, consists of a...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    WHEN WE WERE ALL FALLEN (παντων καταπεσοντων ημων). Genitive absolute with second aorist active participle of καταπιπτω. In the Hebrew language (τη Εβραιδ διαλεκτω). Natural addition here, for Paul...

  • Scofield's Bible Commentary

    HEARD (_ See Scofield) - (Acts 9:7). _...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Acts 26 St. Paul's Defence before Agrippa. Observe: I. What is the central truth of the Christian system. It is a very suggestive fact that Festus had got hold of the kernel of the whole subject, as...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Acts 26:1. _Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:_ I do not suppose Agrippa imagined that Paul would take...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Three times we have in Holy Writ a graphic report of the conversion of Paul. This may be accounted for partly from its being one of the most remarkable events of early sacred history, Paul having had...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Paul's defense before Agrippa. CHARACTERS: God, Jesus, Paul, Agrippa, Satan, Festus, Bernice, Caesar. CONCLUSION: When God's servant is given a chance to speak for himself, it is well if h...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Acts 26:1. _Then Paul stretched forth the hand,_ the usual signal to gain attention; it indicates presence of mind in the speaker, and that his auditory is large. Though the notice was short, the cour...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    IT WAS FOR THIS PURPOSE. He had gone to Damascus with the idea of trying to crush the Christian movement. This is the third time he tells about his converting to Christ. See Acts 9:1-9 and notes. Here...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Whereupon as I went to Damascus._ THE CONVERSION OF SAUL OF TARSUS I. His character before his conversion. 1. He was a moral man (Philippians 3:6). Yet he needed conversion. The necessity of conve...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself._ PAUL BEFORE AGRIPPA Here is all that Christianity ever asked for: an opportunity to speak for itself; and its answer is the one...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL REMARKS_ Acts 26:9. Commences the second part of Paul’s apology. Paul would not despair of converting his countrymen from doubt to belief, since he himself had undergone a similar mental rev...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ACTS 26:1 And for _then, _A.V.; _his _for _the, _A.V.; _made his _defense_ _for _answered for himself, _A.V. AGRIPPA SAID. It was by the courtesy of Festus that Agrippa thus took the chief...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Let's open our Bibles to the twenty-sixth chapter of Acts. Paul was rescued by Lysias, the captain of the Roman guard from the mob that was attempting to beat him to death in Jerusalem on the temple m...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 10:22; Acts 21:40; Acts 22:2; Acts 22:7; Acts 9:4;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. Or, goads. The sharp goad carried in the ploughman's hand, against which the oxen kick on being pricked. The metaphor, though not found in Jewish writin...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    In the Hebrew tongue — St. Paul was not now speaking in Hebrew: when he was, Acts 23:7, he did not add, In the Hebrew tongue. Christ used this tongue both on earth and from heaven....

Continues after advertising