Charles Spurgeon Commentary Acts 26:12-14

"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 about me and them that journeyed with me. 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." — Acts 26:12-14 (ASV)

Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests. At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. 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 do you persecute me?

It is hard for you to kick against the pricks.

Not "It is hard for me to bear it," but "It is hard for you"; as if our Lord, though conscious of being persecuted, in that divine unselfishness which is so natural to him, forgot the kicks that were given to him and only thought of the injury which Saul was doing to himself when, like an ox that strikes out against the goad, he injured himself.

Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, at midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and those who journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking to me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? it is hard for you to kick against the pricks.

He was like a stubborn ox kicking against the goads; and the harder he kicked, the more the sharp points of the goads pricked him.