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"Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth all men everywhere against the
people, and the law, and this place."
When we consider these parallels, we can the better appreciate something of the way
in which the martyrdom of Stephen is linked with the conversion of Paul. The words "It
is hard for thee to kick against the pricks" are omitted from Acts 9: 5 in the critical
texts, but are found in Paul's own account in Acts 26: 14. Hosea 4: 16 is the figure
that is in mind:
"For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer."
The usual interpretation put upon the word "backslider" is one that slips or slides
backwards "to lapse gradually from a spiritual or moral position formerly attained". This
however cannot fit the case of Paul. He was not in danger of sliding back from the faith,
he was "jibbing" as a horse or ox that moves restively sideways and backwards.
Moffatt's rendering of Hosea 4: 16 is clearer:
"Israel indeed is stubborn as a restive heifer."
The words translated "pricks" is better translated "goads", and the reference is to the
long thin lance that was used with oxen at the plough, it being quite harmless while the
oxen obeyed, but if they rebelled and jibbed, they themselves backed on to the goad. On
the day of Pentecost, we read that some were "pricked in their heart, and said . . . . . what
shall we do?" (Acts 2: 37) and they repented. In Acts 7: 54 we read that:
"When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him
with their teeth."
Acts 8: 1 opens with the words:
"And Saul was consenting unto his death."
When he described that moment, speaking on the stairs of the castle, he said:
"And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and
consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him" (22: 20).
To stifle the pricking of his conscience, and to show the Sanhedrin that he had no
leanings to the new heresy, he desired letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he
found any of this way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound unto
Jerusalem, and on that road the miracle happened!
"Who art thou, Lord . . . . . I am Jesus."
"He was three days without sight . . . . . and straightway he preached Christ in the
synagogues, that He is the Son of God" (Acts 9: 5, 9, 20).
Paul was, therefore, as were Peter and James and the twelve, an eye-witness:
"Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord?"
(I Cor. 9: 1).
"And last of all He was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time" (I Cor. 15: 8).