Suddenly, a light shone around him from heaven. He fell to the ground. He heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
He asked, “Who are You, Lord?”
The Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
So, he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”
Then, the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” [1]
Saul of Tarsus arrested Christians. He consented to the stoning of God's servant Stephen. When the Lord appeared to Saul in a vision, he had two questions for the Lord:
1) “Who are you?”
2) “Lord, what do You want me to do?”
Jesus verified that it was He who was speaking to Saul. He added two facts:
1) When you persecute Christians, you persecute Christ
2) It is hard to kick against goads.
What are goads?
“A goad was a long, extremely sharp stick used to get an ox going the way you wanted when plowing. One jabbed the hind legs of the ox with the goad until the ox cooperated.” [2]
Jesus had been goading Saul, but Saul kept kicking against the goad.
The Lord Jesus Christ compared Saul’s defiance of Him to a rebellious ox that prefers goading to working. Usually, oxen cooperate with farmers who goad them. Saul refused to be led by Jesus despite his pain.
The Lord Jesus graciously appeared to Saul. Saul had done everything against Jesus and His followers. Now, Saul knew Jesus as His Lord and Savior. [3]
After His conversion, Saul began to preach Christ in the synagogues or places of religious gatherings. He preached that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. [4]
Saul increased in strength. He proved to many that this Jesus is the Christ. [5]
I wonder how many are kicking against the goads today. Jesus graciously revealed himself to Saul. After he met Jesus, he was forever changed. Have you met Jesus? If not, I pray that you too will receive a revelation of Him that transforms you, assures you that He is real, and solidifies your confidence that in Christ you have God's gift of eternal life.
[1] Acts 9:3-7
[2] Enduring Word Commentary
[3] Acts 9:17-18
[4] Acts 9:20
[5] Acts 9:22
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