Jesus had spoken to Saul in many ways his whole life. He spoke to him in creation – Romans 1:19-20. He spoke to him while he was raised under the Jewish Law. In Galatians 3:24 he says the Law was a tutor, a guardian until Christ came. It was designed to bring us to and recognize the Messiah. God spoke to Paul through the Prophets. Paul had seen it, and heard it in the lives and testimony of the followers of Jesus he had persecuted. He was there when Stephen, the deacon, preached in Acts 7. That deacon schooled them that day to understand all God was doing. The Leaders stoned Stephen. Paul saw the way he died, in dignity for Christ, and with a message of Forgiveness when he died. 

And yet Acts 8 begins saying Saul agreed with putting him to death and Saul was ravaging the church… house to house… drag off men and women and put them in prison. 

Every one of these things was part of God leading Saul to Repentance. 

Then on the road to Damascus – Paul tells Agrippa an Felix – I was terribly enraged at them… tried to make them Blaspheme (reject Jesus as Son) v12 under those circumstances… with authority and a commission

This is His Testimony… I saw a light from heaven brighter than the sun… we all fell on the ground v14 And I Heard a Voice Speaking to me in Aramaic

This spoke to me differently today. 

Paul was educated, wise, metropolitan if you will. He spoke at least three languages – Greek, Hebrew, and his heart language, Aramaic. 

Jesus too would have used all of these languages. And when he strikes Saul down, he could have spoke to the World Man and Roman Citizen, Paul. He could have spoken to the Religious Scholar and Leader, Saul. But he doesn’t. 

Hebrew was now the most common of the spoken languages of the Jewish people. But when Jesus speaks to him here, he speaks in Aramaic. I believe it grabbed Saul’s heartstrings. He was already dazed and amazed by the light – but now this great power is not speaking the Civil Power Language. Nor is he speaking the Religious Authority Language. He wasn’t speaking in the Commission of the Temple or Rome but was actually calling in a simple, familiar voice, a common voice. 

Jesus asks why are you persecuting me? It is hard to kick against the goads. 

I often imagined Jesus speaking forcefully and authoritatively here, but no, I think it was gentle. I compare this to Paul sharing his testimony in Acts 21 and 22, as he was accused of bringing Greeks into the Temple. He wanted to defend himself. They thought in Acts 21:38 that he was an Egyptian who led a revolt with 4,000 assassins. And notice in 21:40 he motioned with his hands… there was a great hush, he addressed them in Aramaic… and v22:2 says, when they heard he was addressing in Aramaic, they become even quieter. 

Hmm, where did Paul learn this tactic? It’s how Jesus spoke to him. Jesus was getting Saul’s heart to pay attention and his ears to hear. 

So in Acts 21&22 Paul gives a testimony they can understand – Just as Jesus spoke in a gentle way he could understand.

I was once sharing Jesus in El Salvador with some fishermen along the Lempa River. These guys were spear fishermen. They used hand made spear guns. I asked them if I could hold their spear gun. It was loaded, but they allowed me. And I explained to them about our pescados, our sins. I told them that pescado /sin was a word that was an archery term – describing missing the target. I was speaking to them in a way they could understand, and they were paying attention, kept telling me cuidado – “be careful” – my point exactly, but they just didn’t want me to fire it. But they listened to this gringo speaking in a way they could understand in their hearts. 

Jesus spoke to Saul in Aramaic. Paul’s testimony was shared who knows how many times. But we have the story recorded 3 times. We have Luke’s Historical Account in Acts 9. Then we have two records of him sharing his testimony in Acts 21/22 and then before Agrippa and Felix. 

Only here in Acts 26 does it use another phrase that Jesus used with Saul – why do you kick against the goads. I believe Paul sed it here for an important reason. Jesus was saying “Saul, I’ve been trying to get you to go in the right direction all of your life, but you are fighting me, and it’s only hurting you. Creation spoke, The Law spoke, Prophets spoke, The Witnesses spoke, and so I have blinded you – so now I’m speaking gently to you in your heart language – stop fighting me – let’s clean up the wounds and come follow me. I have a purpose for you, I have a new commission I am appointing you to.”

Paul, in his testimony, I believe was saying to Agrippa, “stop fighting the revelation, the pressing of God. God has given you a position but he has better things for you. 

Almost is the KJV way of rendering Agrippa’s response. The CSB says are you going to persuade me to become a Christians so easily? To which Paul says “I don’t care if it’s easy or hard, I just want you and all who hear to become like me, a follower of Jesus.” 

My point in this discussion is that Paul does something simple and repeatable here as he shares his testimony. He shares 1) Life Before Christ 2) How he came to know Christ 3) his Life after Christ and 4) Invites them to Believe and Come as well. 

If you are a follower of Jesus, I encourage you to write down on one or two pages your testimony Life Before, How you Came, and What has Happened since you met Jesus. Be Passionate, Be Perceptive of the audience, Be Patient – then leave it to the Lord. 

Finally, if you do not have anything to write down perhaps God has brought you to this moment – confess your sin, believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and follow him right now.