Acts 9

And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

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.

And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?

But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:

But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.

Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.

And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.

Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.

Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.

And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.

And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.

And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.

Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.

And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.

Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.

But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.

And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.

And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.

What does Acts 9:5 mean?

Explanation

Acts 9:5 features a critical moment in the New Testament narrative.

Saul of Tarsus, who later becomes Apostle Paul, has an encounter with the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus, where he was headed to persecute Christians.

Saul is struck blind by a light from heaven and falls to the ground.

In his disoriented state, he hears a voice asking, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" Saul responds with the question, "Who art thou, Lord?" The reply he receives, "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest," reveals the identity of the speaker and suggests that to persecute the followers of Jesus is to persecute Jesus Himself.

The phrase "it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks" is a proverbial saying of the time, meaning it is futile to resist the will of God.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

This verse is situated in the early days of Christianity when the followers of Jesus were spreading his teachings and facing oppression and persecution from the Jewish authorities.

Saul, a devout Pharisee, saw the new sect as a dangerous deviation from Jewish law and sought to stamp it out.

The journey to Damascus was a part of his campaign against Christians.

Following this conversion experience, Saul, who becomes known as Paul, would go on to be a foundational figure in the spread of Christianity.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, this verse illustrates several key ideas:

Divine Encounter: Saul's encounter with Jesus underscores the belief in a living Christ who interacts with humanity beyond his earthly life.
Unity of the Church and Christ: Jesus’ identification with his followers suggests a mystical union, implying that the Church is the body of Christ.
Divine Calling: The verse exemplifies God's power to call and transform individuals.

Paul's conversion is seen as a powerful example of redemption.

Free Will and God's Sovereignty: The proverbial "kicking against the pricks" can signify the tension between human free will and divine sovereignty, as Saul's resistance eventually gives way to a greater plan.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, Acts 9:5 can inspire individuals to:

Consider the impact of their actions on others as actions against a community can be seen as actions against the deity they worship.
Reflect upon moments of resistance in their lives that may indicate a need to change direction or submit to a higher calling.
Embrace the possibility for transformation, no matter their past actions or current beliefs.

Cross-References

Acts 26:14 - "...Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks."
1 Corinthians 12:12-27 - Paul writes about the Church as the body of Christ and emphasizes the unity between Christ and his followers.
1 Timothy 1:13-15 - Paul references his former life of persecution and credits Christ Jesus with showing him mercy and appointing him to service.

Language Study

"Lord" (Greek: κύριος, kyrios): A title of respect or deity; ambiguous here until clarified as Jesus.
"Jesus" (Greek: Ἰησοῦς, Iēsous): The Greek form of the name Yeshua/Joshua, meaning "Yahweh is salvation".
"Persecutest" (Greek: διώκω, diōkō): To pursue or chase with hostile intent.
"Pricks" (Greek: κέντρον, kentron): A goad or sharp point used to drive oxen, symbolic of a stimulus or provocation.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The concept of a divine or prophetic figure calling someone to change their ways is common in many religious traditions.

The theme of transformation and the idea of a guiding destiny or consequences for resisting it appear in various mythologies and faith systems.

In Greek mythology, for example, the gods often intervene in human affairs, offering warnings or punishments to redirect human actions.

Scientific Perspectives

While science does not deal directly with supernatural encounters or divine revelation, neurological science does explore how intense experiences can lead to profound changes in belief and behavior.

Studies in psychology could potentially shed light on the transformative effects of what are believed to be spiritual encounters.

Commentaries

Commentators offer various insights on Acts 9:5:

John Calvin sees this as a lesson in humility: Paul is taught that he gains nothing by obstinately resisting God.
Matthew Henry comments on the sovereign and irresistible grace of God demonstrated in Paul's conversion.
William Barclay notes the blend of challenge and invitation in Christ's words and interprets the "kicking against the goads" as a metaphor for futile resistance to God's will.
**F.F.

Bruce** highlights the significance of the Damascus road experience for Paul, underscoring how the event became foundational to his understanding of the Gospel.

These commentators generally agree on the pivotal nature of this interaction between Jesus and Saul, emphasizing its role in the broader narrative of Christian scripture.

Acts 9

Acts 9

What does Acts 9:5 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 9:5 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?