Understanding the Significance of the Goad in Acts 9:5 and Acts 26:14

The Goad A C T S 9 : 5; 2 6: 1 4 This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC

INTRODUCTION The word goad or prick is used in both the Old and New Testaments A goad is a pointed stick used to prod oxen along the way. When an animal kicks against the nudging of the prod, it causes more pain to the animal This word can be used in both a positive or negative application and often used in a figurative (metaphorical) sense 2

Acts 9:5, NKJV Acts 26:14, NKJV 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 Acts 9:5 NKJV And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads Acts 26:14 NKJ V 3

W. E. Vine on goad kentron from kenteo, to prick, denotes (a) a sting, Revelation 9:10; metaphorically, of sin as the sting of death, 1 Corinthians 15:55, 56 (b) a goad, Acts 26:14, RV, goad (marg., goads ), for AV, pricks (in some mss. also in Acts 9:5), said of the promptings and misgivings which Saul of Tarsus had resisted before conversion. 4

Joseph Henry Thayer on goad 1) a sting, as that of bees, scorpions, locusts. Since animals wound by their sting and even cause death, Paul attributes death, personified as a sting, i.e. a deadly weapon 2) an iron goad, for urging on oxen, horses and other beasts of burden 2a) hence the proverb, to kick against the goad , i.e. to offer vain and perilous or ruinous resistance 5

goad Used In The Scriptures Judges 3:31 And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel Eccl. 12:11 The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd Cf. Jas. 1:5; Prov. 1:7; 2:6; 3;7; 2 Tim. 3:15-17 6

goad in the scriptures 1 Sam. 13:21 Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads Acts 26:14 NKJV And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads cf. 9:5, KJV & NKJV 7

Acts 9:4-5, NKJV 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? And he said, Who are You, Lord? 5 Then the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads (pricks, KJV) 8

Acts 9:5, NKJV The statement It is hard for you to kick against the goads (pricks, KJV) is NOT found in the following Bible versions except the YLT: ASV, BSB, ESV, ISV, NAS77, NAS95, NET, NRSV, RSV, RV, WEB YLT hard for thee at the pricks to kick 9

Acts 26:13-14, NKJV 13 at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. 14 And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads. 10

Acts 26:14, NKJV The statement It is hard for you to kick against the goads (pricks, KJV) IS found in the following Bible versions: ASV, BSB, ESV, ISV, KJV, MKJV, NAS77 NAS95, NET, NRSV, RSV, RV, WEB, YLT 11

Educated Saul Resisted Jesus Saul, a Pharisee was schooled in the Jewish law and traditions Acts 23:6; 26:4-5 He was taught after the strict manner of the law at the feet of Gamaliel Acts 22:1-3 Gamaliel, a Pharisee and doctor of the law of good reputation among fellow Jews Acts 5:34ff Paul offered his Jewish resume Phil. 3:4-6 Paul likely heard the testimony of Steven in Acts 6:8-7:1-56 note especially vv. 57-58 Therefore, Paul was not ignorant of the prophecies of the Messiah and His coming 12

Johny Stringer on Acts 9:5 The words It is hard for the to kick against the pricks compare Saul to a stubborn ox. A prick was an ox-goad, a long, pointed instrument used to prod oxen. When a stubborn ox kicked against the goad, he hurt himself by his rebellious resistance of his master s prodding. Saul s stubborn resistance of the gospel s influence was like an ox s stubborn kicks against the goad; and like the ox, Saul was hurting himself Acts, Truth Commentary, p. 188 13

Paul Confessed He Resistance He rehearsed his conversion in when defended himself Acts 22:1-16 Before Felix and King Agrippa, he again recounts his salvation Acts 26:1-23 He confessed his former days to others he worked with 1 Tim. 1:12-13; Phil. 3:6 He spoke of his persecution days in his letter to Corinth 1 Cor. 15:8-9 He referred to wasting the church in his Galatian letter Gal. 1:13, 20-24 14

Good Goads Bad Goads Sometimes we need to be remined of our duties and responsibilities God s word is our goad Psa. 119:105 It shows us how to walk Col. 2:6-10 1 Thess. 4:1ff to walk and to please to God It corrects the unruly 1 Thess. 5:14 The gospel is God s goad to reprove, rebuke and exhort 2 Tim. 4:1-5 Those who rebel can be saved only by obeying gospel goadand will incur God s wrath if they do not obey 2 Thess. 1:7-9 15

Good Goads Bad Goads Sometimes we encounter bad goads that provoke us to turn from God Sinners goad us in following them to do evil Prov. 1:8-19; 1 Pet. 4:1-4 Satan goaded Eve Gen. 3:1-5 Joseph was goadedby Potiphar s wife Gen. 39:7-21; cf. Prov. 7:1-27 Daniel was goaded by his fellow peers Dan. 6:1-24 Ananias and Sapphira were goaded by the Devil to lie to God Acts 5:1-10 16

Be aware of the goads (good/bad) that are pricking at your heels! Follow the Lord s goads that direct you but kick mightily against any that try to lead you from God! CONCLUSION 17

Acts 16:30 Sirs, What MUST I do ? Alien sinners MUST Hear the Gospel Romans 10:17; Hebrews 11:6 Believe it John 8:24 Repent of sin in your life Acts 17:30 Confess that Christ is God s Son Matt. 10:34 Be baptized to wash away your sins Acts 2:38 An erring child of God MUST Repent and Pray for Forgiveness 1 John 1:7-9 Be faithful unto death Revelation 2:10b 18