Charles Spurgeon Commentary Acts 9:4-5

"and he fell upon the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And he [said], I am Jesus whom thou persecutest:" — Acts 9:4-5 (ASV)

And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 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.

There is something very characteristic about Christ's answer to Saul's question. He did not say, "It is hard for me;" although he was himself persecuted in his members, and felt intense sympathy with them, he did not dwell upon that; but he said to Saul, It is hard for thee. There was much pity in the rebuke. Saul was like a young bull that has been pricked by the sharp ox-goad, and that kicks against it, and so is hurt all the more. Our Lord knew what sorrow it would cause Saul in the years to come, for he would never cease to lament that he had persecuted the disciples of Christ.