Acts 9:5
New International Version
“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.

New Living Translation
“Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting!

English Standard Version
And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

Berean Standard Bible
“Who are You, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied.

Berean Literal Bible
And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" And He said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

King James Bible
And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

New King James Version
And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”

New American Standard Bible
And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,

NASB 1995
And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,

NASB 1977
And he said, “Who art Thou, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,

Legacy Standard Bible
And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,

Amplified Bible
And Saul said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He answered, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,

Christian Standard Bible
“Who are you, Lord? ” Saul said. “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting,” he replied.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Who are You, Lord?” he said. “I am Jesus, the One you are persecuting,” He replied.

American Standard Version
And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest:

Contemporary English Version
"Who are you?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus," the Lord answered. "I am the one you are so cruel to.

English Revised Version
And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Saul asked, "Who are you, sir?" The person replied, "I'm Jesus, the one you're persecuting.

Good News Translation
"Who are you, Lord?" he asked. "I am Jesus, whom you persecute," the voice said.

International Standard Version
He asked, "Who are you, Lord?" The voice said, "I'm Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

Majority Standard Bible
?Who are You, Lord?? Saul asked. ?I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,? replied the Lord.

NET Bible
So he said, "Who are you, Lord?" He replied, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting!

New Heart English Bible
And he said, "Who are you, Lord?" And he said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. It is hard for thee to kick against the goads.

Weymouth New Testament
"Who art thou, Lord?" he asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," was the reply.

World English Bible
He said, “Who are you, Lord?” The Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And the LORD said, “I am Jesus whom you persecute; [[hard for you to kick at the goads”;

Berean Literal Bible
And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" And He said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

Young's Literal Translation
And he said, 'Who art thou, Lord?' and the Lord said, 'I am Jesus whom thou dost persecute; hard for thee at the pricks to kick;'

Smith's Literal Translation
And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom thou drivest out: hard for thee to kick against goads.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Who said: Who art thou, Lord? And he: I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. It is hard for thee to kick against the goad.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goad.”

New American Bible
He said, “Who are you, sir?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

New Revised Standard Version
He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Saul answered and said, Who are you my LORD? and our LORD said, I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you persecute:

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
He answered and said, “Who are you my lord?” And our Lord said, “I AM THE LIVING GOD, Yeshua the Nazarene, He whom you are persecuting.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
He answered: "Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said: I am Jesus, whom you persecute.

Godbey New Testament
And He said, I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.

Haweis New Testament
Then said he, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou art persecuting: It is difficult for thee to kick against the goads.

Mace New Testament
and he said, who art thou, Lord? and the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: [it is hard for thee to kick against the goad. Then trembling with the fright Saul said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? and the Lord said to him,]

Weymouth New Testament
"Who art thou, Lord?" he asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," was the reply.

Worrell New Testament
And he said, "Who art Thou, Lord?" And He said, "I am Jesus Whom you are persecuting.

Worsley New Testament
And he said, Who art Thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus the Nazarene whom thou art persecuting: it is hard for thee to kick against the goads.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Road to Damascus
4He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?” 5“Who are You, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied. 6“Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”…

Cross References
Acts 22:7-8
I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?’ / ‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ He replied.

Acts 26:14-15
We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice say to me in Hebrew, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ / ‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied.

1 Corinthians 15:8-10
And last of all He appeared to me also, as to one of untimely birth. / For I am the least of the apostles and am unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. / But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

Galatians 1:15-16
But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by His grace, was pleased / to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not rush to consult with flesh and blood,

1 Timothy 1:12-16
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, that He considered me faithful and appointed me to service. / I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy. / And the grace of our Lord overflowed to me, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ...

John 20:15-16
“Woman, why are you weeping?” Jesus asked. “Whom are you seeking?” Thinking He was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried Him off, tell me where you have put Him, and I will get Him.” / Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

John 10:27
My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.

John 15:18-21
If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. / If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. / Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well. ...

Matthew 25:40
And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’

Matthew 25:45
Then the King will answer, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for Me.’

Exodus 3:4
When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from within the bush, “Moses, Moses!” “Here I am,” he answered.

Isaiah 6:8
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: “Whom shall I send? Who will go for Us?” And I said: “Here am I. Send me!”

Isaiah 42:16
I will lead the blind by a way they did not know; I will guide them on unfamiliar paths. I will turn darkness into light before them and rough places into level ground. These things I will do for them, and I will not forsake them.

Isaiah 50:10
Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of His Servant? Who among you walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD; let him lean on his God.

Isaiah 53:1
Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?


Treasury of Scripture

And he said, Who are you, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom you persecute: it is hard for you to kick against the pricks.

Who.

1 Samuel 3:4-10
That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I…

1 Timothy 1:13
Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

I am.

Acts 26:9
I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

it is.

Acts 5:39
But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

Deuteronomy 32:15
But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.

Job 9:4
He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?

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Attacking Goads Hard Jesus Kick Lord Persecute Persecutest Persecuting Pricks Saul
Acts 9
1. Saul, going toward Damascus, is stricken down to the earth,
8. and led blind to Damascus;
10. is called to the apostleship;
18. and is baptized by Ananias.
20. He preaches Christ boldly.
23. The Jews lay wait to kill him;
29. so do the Grecians, but he escapes both.
31. The church having rest, Peter heals Aeneas;
36. and restores Tabitha to life.














Who are You, Lord?
This phrase marks a pivotal moment in the life of Saul of Tarsus, later known as the Apostle Paul. The Greek word for "Lord" here is "Κύριε" (Kyrie), which can mean "sir" or "master," but in this context, it signifies a recognition of divine authority. Saul, a devout Pharisee, is confronted with a divine presence that he instinctively acknowledges as superior. This moment of recognition is crucial, as it signifies the beginning of Saul's transformation from a persecutor of Christians to a devoted follower of Christ. Historically, this encounter on the road to Damascus is a turning point not only for Saul but for the early Christian church, as it leads to the spread of the Gospel to the Gentiles.

I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting
The response from the divine voice identifies the speaker as Jesus, the very one whom Saul is persecuting. The Greek word for "persecuting" is "διώκεις" (diokeis), which implies a relentless pursuit with the intent to harm. This revelation is profound, as it directly links the persecution of Christians with the persecution of Christ Himself. It underscores the intimate connection between Jesus and His followers, emphasizing that any harm done to them is harm done to Him. This theological truth is foundational for understanding the nature of the Church as the Body of Christ. The historical context here is significant, as it highlights the early church's struggles and the divine protection and guidance they received.

It is hard for you to kick against the goads
This phrase, though not present in all manuscripts, is a metaphor derived from agricultural practices. A "goad" is a sharp stick used to drive oxen, and "kicking against the goads" implies a futile resistance against a greater force. The Greek word for "goads" is "κέντρα" (kentra), which conveys the idea of sharpness and pain. This metaphor suggests that Saul's efforts to suppress the Christian movement are not only futile but also self-destructive. Spiritually, it illustrates the futility of resisting God's will and the pain that comes from opposing divine purpose. Historically, this phrase would resonate with an agrarian society familiar with the imagery, reinforcing the message of submission to God's sovereign plan.

(5) Who art thou, Lord?--The word "Lord" could not as yet have been used in all the fulness of its meaning. As in many cases in the Gospels, it was the natural utterance of respect and awe (John 5:7; John 9:36; John 20:15), such as would be roused by what the persecutor saw and heard.

I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.--Some of the best MSS. give "Jesus of Nazareth"; or better, perhaps, Jesus the Nazarene. It is probable, however, that this was inserted from Acts 22:18, where it occurs in St. Paul's own narrative. Assuming the words to have been those which he actually heard, they reproduced the very Name which he himself, as the chief accuser of Stephen, had probably uttered in the tone of scorn and hatred (Acts 6:14)--the very Name which he had been compelling men and women to blaspheme. Now it was revealed to him, or to use his own suggestive mode of speech, "in him" (Galatians 1:16), that the Crucified One was in very deed, as the words of Stephen had attested, at the right hand of God, sharing in the glory of the Father. The pronouns are both emphatic, "I, in my Love and Might and Glory, I am the Jesus whom thou, now prostrate and full of dread, hast been bold enough to persecute." It was not the disciples and brethren alone whom Saul was persecuting. What was done to them the Lord counted as done unto Himself (Matthew 10:40). . . .

Verse 5. - He for the Lord, A.V. and T.R. The rest of ver. 5 in the A.V., "It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks" and the first part of ver. 6, "And he trembling and astonished, said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him," are omitted in the R.T. They have, in fact, no manuscript authority (Meyer; Alford); and not much patristic authority, or from versions, and are omitted by all modern editors. They seem to be taken from the parallel narratives in Acts 22:8-10; Acts 26:14. The proverb, "It is hard," etc., is only found in Acts 26:14 (where see note).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
“Who
Τίς (Tis)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

are You,
εἶ (ei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

Lord?”
Κύριε (Kyrie)
Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.

[Saul] asked.
Εἶπεν (Eipen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

“I
Ἐγώ (Egō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

am
εἰμι (eimi)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

Jesus,
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2424: Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.

whom
ὃν (hon)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

you
σὺ (sy)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

are persecuting,”
διώκεις (diōkeis)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 1377: To pursue, hence: I persecute. A prolonged form of a primary verb dio; to pursue; by implication, to persecute.

[He replied].
δέ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.


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