It is hard for you to kick against the goads

Acts 26 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

Now Agrippa said to Paul, “You are permitted to speak for yourself.” Then Paul extended his hand and proceeded to make his defense:

² “Regarding all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate that I am about to make my defense before you today, ³ especially because you are an expert in all customs and questions among the Jews; therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.

⁴ “So then, all Jews know my way of life since my youth, which from the beginning was spent among my own nation and in Jerusalem, ⁵ since they have known about me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest sect of our religion. ⁶ And now I am standing trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers; ⁷ the promise to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly serve God night and day. For this hope, O king, I am being accused by Jews. ⁸ Why is it considered incredible among you people if God raises the dead?

⁹ “So I thought to myself that I had to act in strong opposition to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. ¹⁰ And this is just what I did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons, after receiving authority from the chief priests, but I also cast my vote against them when they were being put to death. ¹¹ And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and since I was extremely enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities.

¹² “While so engaged, as I was journeying to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests, ¹³ at midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who were journeying with me. ¹⁴ And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew dialect, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ ¹⁵ And I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. ¹⁶ But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you as a servant and a witness not only to the things in which you have seen Me, but also to the things in which I will appear to you, ¹⁷ rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, ¹⁸ to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’

¹⁹ “For that reason, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, ²⁰ but continually proclaimed to those in Damascus first, and in Jerusalem, and then all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they are to repent and turn to God, performing deeds consistent with repentance. ²¹ For these reasons some Jews seized me in the temple and tried to murder me. ²² So, having obtained help from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place, ²³ as to whether the Christ was to suffer, and whether, as first from the resurrection of the dead, He would proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”

²⁴ While Paul was stating these things in his defense, Festus said in a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you insane.” ²⁵ But Paul said, “I am not insane, most excellent Festus; on the contrary, I am speaking out with truthful and rational words. ²⁶ For the king knows about these matters, and I also speak to him with confidence, since I am persuaded that none of these things escape his notice; for this has not been done in a corner. ²⁷ King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you believe.” ²⁸ Agrippa replied to Paul, “In a short time you are going to persuade me to make a Christian of myself.” ²⁹ And Paul said, “I would wish to God that even in a short or long time not only you, but also all who hear me this day would become such as I myself am, except for these chains.”

³⁰ The king stood up and the governor and Bernice, and those who were sitting with them, ³¹ and when they had gone out, they began talking to one another, saying, “This man is not doing anything deserving death or imprisonment.” ³² And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

In today’s text it says: At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who were journeying with me. And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew dialect, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ And I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.”  Goads are sharp pointed sticks which were used to keep working animals moving in the desired direction. Indeed, it is hard and even painful to kick against the goads. By persecuting believers, Saul was working in opposition to Jesus. In contrast to the difficulty of opposing God, in Matthew 11:28-29 Jesus exhorts us saying: “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”  When we are yoked to Christ, He not only keeps us moving in the right direction, He also does the work for us so that we can rest even as we walk and work with Him. In John 14:12-14 Jesus says: “Truly, truly I say to you, the one who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.”  Jesus Himself is the one who does the work. We are only yoked to Him. In verse 15 He adds: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” If we fail to keep His commandments, we are kicking against the goads, and it will be hard.

Paul continues describing his encounter with Jesus recounting what He said: “But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you as a servant and a witness not only to the things in which you have seen Me, but also to the things in which I will appear to you, rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’”  In Matthew 12:30 Jesus says: “The one who is not with Me is against Me; and the one who does not gather with Me scatters.”  Like Paul, we all have the same choice. We are either with Jesus or against Him, yoked to Him or opposed to Him. Consequently, it will either be hard, or we will have rest.

The text ends saying: Paul said, “I would wish to God that even in a short or long time not only you, but also all who hear me this day would become such as I myself am, except for these chains.” The king stood up and the governor and Bernice, and those who were sitting with them, and when they had gone out, they began talking to one another, saying, “This man is not doing anything deserving death or imprisonment.” And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.” Romans 8:28 says: We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. It may have been that Paul could have been set free at that time, but that was not God’s purpose for him. It may have been for Paul’s protection since the Jewish leaders had already plotted several times to kill Paul. More than that though, God’s purpose was as Jesus said on the road to Damascus: “I have appeared to you, to appoint you as a servant and a witness not only to the things in which you have seen Me, but also to the things in which I will appear to you, rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.” God’s purpose for Paul was for him to become conformed to the image of Christ and for him to be perhaps the most influential witness for Him to all the world. He continued to be that witness throughout the time of his captivity under Roman authority. Additionally, some of Paul’s letters, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon, which continue to speak today, were written during Paul’s imprisonment. In his letter to the Philippians, Philippians 4:11-13 he says: I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with little, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.Yoked to Christ, he did the works that Jesus did and he found rest for his soul.

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ and precious Holy Spirit, may I never be opposed to You but always fully yoked to You. May I walk and work in step with You. May I fulfill the purpose that You have called me to and may I learn to be content in any and every circumstance, knowing that I can do all things through You.  Amen.