# Connecting Statement:

While talking to King Agrippa, Paul tells about when the Lord spoke with him.

# While I was doing this

Paul uses this phrase to mark another shift in his defense. He is now telling about when he saw Jesus and became his disciple.

# While

This word is used to mark two events that are happening at the same time. In this case, Paul went to Damascus during the time when he persecuted Christians.

# with authority and orders

Paul had written letters from the Jewish leaders, granting him authority to persecute the Jewish believers.

# I heard a voice speaking to me that said

Here "voice" stands for the person speaking. AT: "I heard someone speaking to me who said" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])

# It is hard for you to kick a goad

For Paul to resist Jesus and to persecute believers is spoken of as if he were an ox kicking at the sharp stick that a person uses to prod (or "goad") the animal. It means that Paul is only harming himself. AT: "You will only harm yourself like an ox kicking a goad" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

# translationWords

* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/damascus]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/chiefpriests]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/king]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/heaven]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/hebrew]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/paul]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/persecute]]