Acts 26:14 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

¹⁴ When we all fell to the ground I heard a voice speaking in the Hebrew [i.e., Aramaic] language. [It said], ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? You are only hurting yourself by kicking against the spurs [i.e., opposing the work of God].’

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

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.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

¹⁴ And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice in the Hebrew tongue saying to me, Saul, Saul, why do you continue to persecute Me [to harass and trouble and molest Me]? It is dangerous and turns out badly for you to keep kicking against the goads [to keep offering vain and perilous resistance].

American Standard Version (1901)

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.

Common English Bible

¹⁴ We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice that said to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you harassing me? It’s hard for you to kick against a spear.’

Catholic Public Domain Version

¹⁴ And when we had all fallen down to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me in the Hebrew language: 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goad.'

Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version

¹⁴ And when we were all fallen down on the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me in the Hebrew tongue: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the goad.

Acts 26:14 Cross References

Acts 21:40

And when the commander gave him permission, Paul stood on the stairway and motioned to the people with his hand [for attention]. When they completely quieted down, he spoke to them in the Hebrew [i.e., Aramaic] language, saying,

Acts 22:2

And when they heard him speaking in the Hebrew language, they listened all the more quietly. So, he continued,

Acts 26:13

[Then] along the road, about noon, O King, I saw a light from the sky, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those traveling with me.

Acts 26:15

I answered, ‘Who are you, sir?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus, the One you are persecuting.

Acts 9:7

And the men who were traveling with Saul were speechless, having heard the sound, but not seeing anyone.

1 Corinthians 10:22

Or, are we [trying to] make the Lord jealous [by doing this]? [Do we think] we are stronger that He is?