Matthew Poole and continuators on Acts 9:5

5 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.

Saul was in a great consternation and doubting, whether it was God, or an Angel.

Tho he did not intend this persecution against Christ; yet our Saviour looks upon the good or evil done unto his members, as done unto himself.

This kicking against the pricks is a proverbial speech, taken either from Oxen, or Slaves, whom they used with goads to prick on to their work, which when they kicked against, or opposed themselves to, they did not hurt the goads or pricks, but themselves; so shall all persecutors find that their mischiefs recoil upon themselves; Christ and his members shall be made more glorious by it: This metaphor is common in Scripture, Deut. 32.15. 1 Sam. 2.29.

The pricks Saul had kicked against, were the Sermons and Miracles of St. Stephen and others.

Marginal references: Chap. 5.39.