KJV: 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.
YLT: And he said, 'Who art thou, Lord?' and the Lord said, 'I am Jesus whom thou dost persecute; hard for thee at the pricks to kick;'
Darby: And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest.
ASV: And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And he'said , I am Jesus whom thou persecutest:
| Εἶπεν | He said |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: λέγω Sense: to speak, say. |
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| εἶ | are You |
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Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Singular Root: εἰμί Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present. |
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| Κύριε | Lord |
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Parse: Noun, Vocative Masculine Singular Root: κύριος Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord. |
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| Ὁ | - |
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Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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| δέ | And [He said] |
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Parse: Conjunction Root: δέ Sense: but, moreover, and, etc. |
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| Ἰησοῦς | Jesus |
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Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: Ἰησοῦς Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor. |
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| ὃν | whom |
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Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Accusative Masculine Singular Root: ὅς Sense: who, which, what, that. |
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| διώκεις | are persecuting |
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Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Singular Root: διώκω Sense: to make to run or flee, put to flight, drive away. |
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| {σκληρόν | [It is] hard |
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Parse: Adjective, Nominative Neuter Singular Root: σκληρός Sense: hard, harsh, rough, stiff. |
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| σοι | for you |
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Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Singular Root: σύ Sense: you. |
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| πρὸς | against |
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Parse: Preposition Root: πρός Sense: to the advantage of. |
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| κέντρα | [the] goads |
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Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural Root: κέντρον Sense: a sting, as that of bees, scorpions, locusts. |
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| λακτίζειν} | to kick |
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Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active Root: λακτίζω Sense: to kick, strike with the heel. |
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| {τρέμων | He trembling |
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Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular Root: τρέμω Sense: tremble. |
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| τε | both |
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Parse: Conjunction Root: τέ Sense: not only … but also. |
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| θαμβῶν | being astonished |
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Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Singular Root: θαμβέω Sense: to be astonished. |
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| εἶπε | said |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular Root: λέγω Sense: to say, to speak. |
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| με | me |
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Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative 1st Person Singular Root: ἐγώ Sense: I, me, my. |
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| θέλεις | do you want |
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Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Singular Root: θέλω Sense: to will, have in mind, intend. |
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| ποιῆσαι} | to do |
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Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active Root: ποιέω Sense: to make. |
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Greek Commentary for Acts 9:5
It is open to question if κυριε kurie should not here be translated “Sir” as in Acts 16:30 and in Matthew 21:29, Matthew 21:30; John 5:7; John 12:21; John 20:15; and should be so in John 9:36. It is hardly likely that at this stage Saul recognized Jesus as Lord, though he does so greet him in Acts 22:10 “What shall I do, Lord?” Saul may have recognized the vision as from God as Cornelius says “Lord” in Acts 10:4. Saul surrendered instantly as Thomas did (John 20:28) and as little Samuel (1 Samuel 3:9). This surrender of the will to Christ was the conversion of Saul. He saw a real Person, the Risen Christ, to whom he surrendered his life. On this point he never wavered for a moment to the end. [source]
Transferred from Acts 26:14, and omitted by the best texts. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Acts 9:5
The Nazarene, not in Acts 9:5; Acts 26:15 and here because Jesus is mentioned now for the first time in the address. The form Ναζωραιος Nazōraios as in Matthew 2:23 (which see) is used also in Acts 24:5 for the followers of Jesus instead of Ναζαρηνος Nazarēnos as in Mark 1:24, etc. (which see). [source]
In persecuting the disciples, Saul was persecuting Jesus, as the words of Jesus in Acts 9:5 made plain. Christ had already spoken of the mystic union between himself and his followers (Matthew 10:40; Matthew 25:40, Matthew 25:45; John 15:1-5). The proverb (Pindar) that Jesus quotes to Saul about kicking against the goad is genuine in Acts 26:14, but not here. [source]
The Hebrew form occurs also in Acts 22:7; Acts 26:14 where it is expressly stated that the voice was in the Hebrew (Aramaic) tongue as also in Acts 9:17 (Ananias). Deissmann (Bible Studies, p. 316) terms this use of με Saoul “the historian‘s sense of liturgical rhythm.” For the repetition of names by Jesus note Luke 10:41 (Martha, Martha), Luke 22:31 (Simon, Simon). Me (me). In persecuting the disciples, Saul was persecuting Jesus, as the words of Jesus in Acts 9:5 made plain. Christ had already spoken of the mystic union between himself and his followers (Matthew 10:40; Matthew 25:40, Matthew 25:45; John 15:1-5). The proverb (Pindar) that Jesus quotes to Saul about kicking against the goad is genuine in Acts 26:14, but not here. [source]
That fact they were overlooking. Jesus had said to Saul that he was persecuting him when he persecuted his disciples (Acts 9:5). One may wonder if Paul knew the words of Jesus in Matthew 25:40, “ye did it unto me.” [source]
Rev., correctly, the name. This expression is differently explained: either the particular name given to Christ, as Jesus or Lord; or name is taken in the sense of dignity or glory, which is a common Old-Testament usage, and occurs in Ephesians 1:21; Hebrews 1:4. Under the former explanation a variety of names are proposed, as Son of God, Lord, God, Christ Jesus. The sense of the personal name Jesus seems to meet all the conditions, and the personal sense is the simpler, since Jesus occurs immediately after with the word name, and again Jesus Christ in Phlippians 2:11. The name Jesus was bestowed on Christ at the beginning of His humiliation, but prophetically as the One who should save His people from their sins, Matthew 1:21. It was the personal name of others besides; but if that is an objection here, it is equally an objection in Phlippians 2:10. The dignity is expressed by above every name. He bears the name in His glory. See Acts 9:5. See on Matthew 1:21. [source]
The dative case in address. Note absence of the article with Τεσσαλονικεων Thessalonikeōn because a proper name and so definite without it. This is the common use of εκκλησια ekklēsia for a local body (church). The word originally meant “assembly” as in Acts 19:39, but it came to mean an organization for worship whether assembled or unassembled (cf. Acts 8:3). The only superscription in the oldest Greek manuscripts (Aleph B A) is Προς Τεσσαλονικεις Α Pros Thessalonikeis A (To the Thessalonians First). But probably Paul wrote no superscription and certainly he would not write A to it before he had written II Thessalonians (B). His signature at the close was the proof of genuineness (2 Thessalonians 3:17) against all spurious claimants (2 Thessalonians 2:2). Unfortunately the brittle papyrus on which he wrote easily perished outside of the sand heaps and tombs of Egypt or the lava covered ruins of Herculaneum. What a treasure that autograph would be! In God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (εν τεωι πατρι και κυριωι ησου Χριστωι en theōi patri kai kuriōi Jēsou Christōi). This church is grounded in (εν en with the locative case) and exists in the sphere and power of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. No article in the Greek, for both τεωι πατρι theōi patri and κυριωι ησου Χριστωι kuriōi Jēsou Christōi are treated as proper names. In the very beginning of this first Epistle of Paul we meet his Christology. He at once uses the full title, “Lord Jesus Christ,” with all the theological content of each word. The name “Jesus” (Saviour, Matthew 1:21) he knew, as the “Jesus of history,” the personal name of the Man of Galilee, whom he had once persecuted (Acts 9:5), but whom he at once, after his conversion, proclaimed to be “the Messiah,” This position Paul never changed. In the great sermon at Antioch in Pisidia which Luke has preserved (Acts 13:23) Paul proved that God fulfilled his promise to Israel by raising up “Jesus as Saviour” Now Paul follows the Christian custom by adding Χριστος Christos (verbal from χριω chriō to anoint) as a proper name to Jesus (Jesus Christ) as later he will often say “Christ Jesus” (Colossians 1:1). And he dares also to apply κυριος kurios (Lord) to “Jesus Christ,” the word appropriated by Claudius (Dominus, Κυριος Kurios) and other emperors in the emperor-worship, and also common in the Septuagint for God as in Psalm 32:1. (quoted by Paul in Romans 4:8). Paul uses Κυριος Kurios of God (1 Corinthians 3:5) or of Jesus Christ as here. In fact, he more frequently applies it to Christ when not quoting the Old Testament as in Romans 4:8. And here he places “the Lord Jesus Christ” in the same category and on the same plane with “God the father.” There will be growth in Paul‘s Christology and he will never attain all the knowledge of Christ for which he longs (Philemon 3:10-12), but it is patent that here in his first Epistle there is no “reduced Christ” for Paul. He took Jesus as “Lord” when he surrendered to Jesus on the Damascus Road: “And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me” (Acts 22:10). It is impossible to understand Paul without seeing clearly this first and final stand for the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul did not get this view of Jesus from current views of Mithra or of Isis or any other alien faith. The Risen Christ became at once for Paul the Lord of his life. Grace to you and peace (χαρις υμιν και ειρηνη charis humin kai eirēnē). These words, common in Paul‘s Epistles, bear “the stamp of Paul‘s experience” (Milligan). They are not commonplace salutations, but the old words “deepened and spiritualised” (Frame). The infinitive (χαιρειν chairein) so common in the papyri letters and seen in the New Testament also (Acts 15:23; Acts 23:26; James 1:1) here gives place to χαρις charis one of the great words of the New Testament (cf. John 1:16.) and particularly of the Pauline Epistles. Perhaps no one word carries more meaning for Paul‘s messages than this word χαρις charis (from χαιρω chairō rejoice) from which χαριζομαι charizomai comes. Peace This introduction is brief, but rich and gracious and pitches the letter at once on a high plane. [source]
. No article in the Greek, for both τεωι πατρι theōi patri and κυριωι ησου Χριστωι kuriōi Jēsou Christōi are treated as proper names. In the very beginning of this first Epistle of Paul we meet his Christology. He at once uses the full title, “Lord Jesus Christ,” with all the theological content of each word. The name “Jesus” (Saviour, Matthew 1:21) he knew, as the “Jesus of history,” the personal name of the Man of Galilee, whom he had once persecuted (Acts 9:5), but whom he at once, after his conversion, proclaimed to be “the Messiah,” This position Paul never changed. In the great sermon at Antioch in Pisidia which Luke has preserved (Acts 13:23) Paul proved that God fulfilled his promise to Israel by raising up “Jesus as Saviour” Now Paul follows the Christian custom by adding Χριστος Christos (verbal from χριω chriō to anoint) as a proper name to Jesus (Jesus Christ) as later he will often say “Christ Jesus” (Colossians 1:1). And he dares also to apply κυριος kurios (Lord) to “Jesus Christ,” the word appropriated by Claudius (Dominus, Κυριος Kurios) and other emperors in the emperor-worship, and also common in the Septuagint for God as in Psalm 32:1. (quoted by Paul in Romans 4:8). Paul uses Κυριος Kurios of God (1 Corinthians 3:5) or of Jesus Christ as here. In fact, he more frequently applies it to Christ when not quoting the Old Testament as in Romans 4:8. And here he places “the Lord Jesus Christ” in the same category and on the same plane with “God the father.” There will be growth in Paul‘s Christology and he will never attain all the knowledge of Christ for which he longs (Philemon 3:10-12), but it is patent that here in his first Epistle there is no “reduced Christ” for Paul. He took Jesus as “Lord” when he surrendered to Jesus on the Damascus Road: “And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said to me” (Acts 22:10). It is impossible to understand Paul without seeing clearly this first and final stand for the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul did not get this view of Jesus from current views of Mithra or of Isis or any other alien faith. The Risen Christ became at once for Paul the Lord of his life. Grace to you and peace (χαρις υμιν και ειρηνη charis humin kai eirēnē). These words, common in Paul‘s Epistles, bear “the stamp of Paul‘s experience” (Milligan). They are not commonplace salutations, but the old words “deepened and spiritualised” (Frame). The infinitive (χαιρειν chairein) so common in the papyri letters and seen in the New Testament also (Acts 15:23; Acts 23:26; James 1:1) here gives place to χαρις charis one of the great words of the New Testament (cf. John 1:16.) and particularly of the Pauline Epistles. Perhaps no one word carries more meaning for Paul‘s messages than this word χαρις charis (from χαιρω chairō rejoice) from which χαριζομαι charizomai comes. Peace This introduction is brief, but rich and gracious and pitches the letter at once on a high plane. [source]