Acts 26:15
New International Version
“Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied.

New Living Translation
“‘Who are you, lord?’ I asked. “And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting.

English Standard Version
And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.

Berean Standard Bible
‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied.

Berean Literal Bible
Then I said, 'Who are You, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

King James Bible
And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

New King James Version
So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

New American Standard Bible
And I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.

NASB 1995
“And I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.

NASB 1977
“And I said, ‘Who art Thou, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.

Legacy Standard Bible
And I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.

Amplified Bible
And I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.

Christian Standard Bible
“I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord? ’ “And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’” And the Lord replied: I am Jesus, the One you are persecuting.

American Standard Version
And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

Contemporary English Version
"Who are you?" I asked. Then the Lord answered, "I am Jesus! I am the one you are so cruel to.

English Revised Version
And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"I asked, 'Who are you, sir?' "The Lord answered, 'I am Jesus, the one you're persecuting.

Good News Translation
'Who are you, Lord?' I asked. And the Lord answered, 'I am Jesus, whom you persecute.

International Standard Version
"I asked, 'Who are you, Lord?' "The Lord answered, 'I'm Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

Majority Standard Bible
?Who are You, Lord?? I asked. ?I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,? He replied.

NET Bible
So I said, 'Who are you, Lord?' And the Lord replied, 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.

New Heart English Bible
"I said, 'Who are you, Lord?' "He said, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

Webster's Bible Translation
And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

Weymouth New Testament
"'Who art Thou, Lord?' I asked. "'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,' the Lord replied.

World English Bible
“I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And I said, Who are You, Lord? And He said, I am Jesus whom you persecute;

Berean Literal Bible
Then I said, 'Who are You, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

Young's Literal Translation
'And I said, Who art thou, Lord? and he said, I am Jesus whom thou dost persecute;

Smith's Literal Translation
And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou drivest out.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I said: Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord answered: I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

New American Bible
And I said, ‘Who are you, sir?’ And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.

New Revised Standard Version
I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ The Lord answered, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And I said, My LORD, who are you? And our LORD said to me, I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you persecute.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“And I said, “Who are you my lord?” And our Lord said to me, 'I am Yeshua the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.' “
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And I said, Who art thou, Lord? He replied, I am Jesus, whom you persecute.

Godbey New Testament
And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou art persecuting.

Haweis New Testament
Then I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he replied, I am Jesus whom thou art persecuting.

Mace New Testament
I answer'd, who art thou, Lord? he said, "I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest.

Weymouth New Testament
"'Who art Thou, Lord?' I asked. "'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,' the Lord replied.

Worrell New Testament
And I said, 'Who art Thou, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting.

Worsley New Testament
And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And He said, I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Paul's Testimony to Agrippa
14We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice say to me in Hebrew, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. 16‘But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen from Me and what I will show you.…

Cross References
Acts 9:5
“Who are You, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied.

Acts 22:8
‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked. ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ He replied.

Exodus 3:6
Then He said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

Isaiah 6:8-9
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: “Whom shall I send? Who will go for Us?” And I said: “Here am I. Send me!” / And He replied: “Go and tell this people, ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’

1 Samuel 3:4-10
Then the LORD called to Samuel, and he answered, “Here I am.” / He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you have called me.” “I did not call,” Eli replied. “Go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down. / Once again the LORD called, “Samuel!” So Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you have called me.” “My son, I did not call,” Eli replied. “Go back and lie down.” ...

John 20:16
Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

Matthew 17:5
While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!”

Luke 24:26-27
Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then to enter His glory?” / And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was written in all the Scriptures about Himself.

John 10:14
I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me,

John 21:15-17
When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus replied, “Feed My lambs.” / Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus told him, “Shepherd My sheep.” / Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?” “Lord, You know all things,” he replied. “You know I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.

1 Corinthians 15:8
And last of all He appeared to me also, as to one of untimely birth.

Galatians 1:12
I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

Philippians 3:12
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

1 Timothy 1:13-16
I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy. / And the grace of our Lord overflowed to me, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. / This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst. ...

2 Corinthians 12:9
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.


Treasury of Scripture

And I said, Who are you, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom you persecute.

I am.

Exodus 16:8
And Moses said, This shall be, when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD.

Matthew 25:40,45
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me…

John 15:20,21
Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also…

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Acts 26
1. Paul, in the presence of Agrippa, declares his life from his childhood;
12. and how miraculously he was converted, and called to his apostleship.
24. Festus charges him with being insane, whereunto he answers modestly.
28. Agrippa is almost persuaded to be a Christian.
31. The whole company pronounces him innocent.














‘Who are You, Lord?’ I asked.
This phrase captures Saul's (later Paul) encounter on the road to Damascus. Saul's use of "Lord" indicates a recognition of divine authority, though he does not yet know the identity of the voice. This moment is pivotal, as Saul, a devout Pharisee, is confronted with the reality of Jesus' divine nature. The question reflects a moment of spiritual awakening and confusion, as Saul's previous understanding of God is challenged. This encounter is a fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 42:6-7, where God promises to open the eyes of the blind and bring prisoners out of darkness.

‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’
Jesus directly identifies Himself, revealing to Saul that his persecution of Christians is, in fact, persecution of Jesus Himself. This statement underscores the intimate connection between Christ and His followers, as seen in Matthew 25:40, where Jesus says, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." Theologically, this highlights the concept of the Church as the Body of Christ, with Jesus as the head (Colossians 1:18). Saul's persecution of Christians is thus a direct affront to Jesus, emphasizing the unity and solidarity between Christ and believers.

the Lord replied.
The use of "the Lord" here reaffirms Jesus' divine authority and lordship. This title is significant, as it aligns with Old Testament references to Yahweh, the covenant name of God, indicating Jesus' divine nature and authority. The response from Jesus is both a revelation and a call to transformation for Saul. This encounter marks the beginning of Saul's conversion and mission as Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, fulfilling God's promise to Abraham that all nations would be blessed through his seed (Genesis 22:18).

Persons / Places / Events
1. Paul (formerly Saul)
A Pharisee and zealous persecutor of Christians who encounters Jesus on the road to Damascus, leading to his conversion and subsequent role as an apostle to the Gentiles.

2. Jesus Christ
The risen Lord who appears to Paul in a vision, identifying Himself as the one whom Paul is persecuting, thus establishing His divine authority and the unity of Himself with His followers.

3. Road to Damascus
The location of Paul's dramatic encounter with Jesus, marking a pivotal moment in Christian history where a persecutor becomes a proponent of the faith.

4. Persecution of Christians
The context of Paul's journey, as he was actively seeking to arrest and harm followers of Jesus, highlighting the early church's struggles.

5. King Agrippa
The ruler before whom Paul is making his defense, providing a historical and legal context for Paul's testimony and the spread of the Gospel.
Teaching Points
Divine Encounter
The transformative power of a personal encounter with Jesus is central to the Christian faith. Paul's life-changing experience on the road to Damascus serves as a reminder that no one is beyond the reach of God's grace.

Identity in Christ
Jesus' identification with His followers ("whom you are persecuting") highlights the intimate connection between Christ and the Church. Believers are called to live in a way that reflects this unity.

Repentance and Redemption
Paul's account is a powerful testament to the possibility of redemption and new beginnings. It encourages believers to seek forgiveness and embrace their new identity in Christ.

Bold Witness
Paul's defense before King Agrippa exemplifies the courage and conviction required to testify about one's faith. Christians are encouraged to share their testimonies boldly, trusting in God's sovereignty.

Purposeful Living
Paul's conversion led to a life of purpose and mission. Believers are called to discern and pursue God's calling in their lives, using their unique gifts and experiences for His glory.Verse 15. - The Lord for he, A.V. and T.R.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
‘Who
Τίς (Tis)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

are You,
εἶ (ei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

Lord?’
Κύριε (Kyrie)
Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.

I
Ἐγὼ (Egō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

asked.
εἶπα (eipa)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

‘I
Ἐγώ (Egō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

am
εἰμι (eimi)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

Jesus,
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsous)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2424: Of Hebrew origin; Jesus, the name of our Lord and two other Israelites.

whom
ὃν (hon)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

you
σὺ (sy)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

are persecuting,’
διώκεις (diōkeis)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 1377: To pursue, hence: I persecute. A prolonged form of a primary verb dio; to pursue; by implication, to persecute.

the
(Ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Lord
Κύριος (Kyrios)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.

replied.
εἶπεν (eipen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.


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