Acts 9:5

And he said, Who are you, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom you persecute: it is hard for you to kick against the goads.
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Cyprian of Carthage

AD 258
Is drawn away with the rent portions of the flesh; still he stands immoveable, the stronger for his sufferings, revolving only this in his mind, that in that brutality of the executioners Christ Himself is suffering

George Leo Haydock

AD 1849
To kick against the goad. Others translate against the pricks; others, against the sting. The metaphor is taken from oxen kicking, when pricked to go forward. (Witham)

Interlinear Gloss

AD 1480
goad: That is, the word and power of God.

John Chrysostom

AD 407
thus in the first place confessing himself His servant. And the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom you persecute. think not your warring is with men. And they which were with him heard the voice of Paul, but saw no person to whom he answered— for (the Lord) suffered them to be hearers of what was less important. Had they heard the other Voice, they would not have believed; but perceiving Paul answering (some person), they marvelled. But arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told you what you must do.

The Apostolic Constitutions

AD 375
That the subordinate persons should tyrannically assume to themselves the functions belonging to their superiors, forming a new scheme of laws to their own mischief, not knowing that "it is hard for them to kick against the pricks; "

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation - 2 Peter 1:20

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