Bible Strands
Acts 9:5
“Who are You, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The risen Christ speaks to Saul of Tarsus immediately after Saul falls to the ground and hears a voice demand why he is persecuting Him. The exchange occurs at the precise moment of divine interruption on the road to Damascus.
The words — The Greek term κύριε (kurie) translates literally as "Lord" and marks Saul's direct inquiry into the speaker's identity. Jesus responds by invoking His own name Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous) to identify Himself as the specific target of the persecution.
The thread — The text records the voice's declaration that persecuting Saul's followers is equivalent to persecuting Christ Himself. This confrontation pattern aligns with the divine call in 1 Samuel 3:4, the confession of ignorant persecution in 1 Timothy 1:13, and the theme of resisting divine authority in Job 9:4.
Why it lands — The passage states that opposing the church is functionally opposing Christ, requiring immediate acknowledgment of divine authority. It demands the reader accept that human agendas are interrupted and redefined by direct divine intervention.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- 1 Timothy 1:13 I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy.
- 1 Samuel 3:4 Then the LORD called to Samuel, and he answered, “Here I am.”
- Job 9:4 God is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has resisted Him and prospered?
- Job 40:9 Do you have an arm like God’s? Can you thunder with a voice like His?
- Isaiah 45:9 Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker—one clay pot among many. Does the clay ask the potter, ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘He has no hands’?
- Acts 26:9 So then, I too was convinced that I ought to do all I could to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
- Deuteronomy 32:15 But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked—becoming fat, bloated, and gorged. He abandoned the God who made him and scorned the Rock of his salvation.
- Psalms 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry and you perish in your rebellion, when His wrath ignites in an instant. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.
- Acts 5:39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God.”
- 1 Corinthians 10:22 Are we trying to provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?