Acts 9:5

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. "

1. Saul used the term "Lord" - not because he understood that this was Jesus the Christ, but as a general term of respect. We might say, "Sir, who are you?"

2. I am Jesus - Jesus has always been active - before he came to earth and since his return to heaven.

3. Kick against the goads - There were two types of goads:

1. A sharp metal pointer on the end of a long stick was used to get an animal to move. The sharp point would jab the animal and urge it to move.

2. Several sharp points in the hitch behind the animal pulling the load. If the animal kicked, instead of pulling the load, it would kick against the sharp points. The ox would soon learn that kicking was only hurting itself.

4. There is a simple principle at work here - If poking yourself in the eye hurts, stop poking.