Acts 24:4
in Acts 24But in order not to burden you any further, I beg your indulgence to hear us briefly.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I entreat thee to hear us of thy clemency a few words.
KJV
Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words.
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This verse in Acts 24
Commentary
9 notes on this verseThat I be not farther tedious unto thee - That I may neither trespass on thy time, by dwelling longer on this subject, nor on thy modesty, by thus enumerating thy beneficent deeds. Hear us of thy clemency - Give us this farther proof of thy kindness, by hearkening to our present complaint. The whole of this exordium was artful enough, though it was lame. The orator had certainly a very bad cause, of which he endeavored to make the best. Felix was a bad man and bad governor; and yet he must praise him, to conciliate his esteem.
This site's exposition
we acknowledge this with all gratitude
on Acts 24:3-4
Tertullus acknowledges Felix in every way and everywhere, with all gratitude, the conventional flattery of a Roman forensic opening. He promises brevity in another stock courtroom phrase, not to burden you any further.
This site's exposition
hear us briefly
This verse is the hinge between the praise and the charges. Wesley judged the speech weak at every joint, calling its opening, its turn to business and its close all lame.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words. For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world. As a revolutionary and seditious person he wishes to deliver him up. And yet, it might be answered, it is ye that have done this. And see how he would put up the judge to a desire of punishing, seeing he had here an opportunity to coerce the man that turned the world upside down! As if they had achieved a meritorious action, they make much of it: Having found this fellow, a mover of sedition, say they, among all the Jews throughout the world. Had he been such, they would have proclaimed him as a benefactor and saviour of the nation! And a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. They thought this likely to tell as a reproach - of the Nazarenes: and by this also they seek to damage him - for Nazareth was a mean place. And, we have found him, say they: see how maliciously they calumniate him: found him, as if he had been always giving them the slip, and with difficulty they had succeeded in getting him: though he had been seven days in the Temple!
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
But that I may not trouble thee any further - By trespassing either on thy patience or modesty. The eloquence of Tertullus was as bad as his cause: a lame introduction, a lame transition, and a lame conclusion.
Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee,....
Princes cannot always judge of the affections of their people by their applauses; flattery is one thing, and true loyalty is another. One of the best of men is here accused as one of the worst of malefactors, only because he was the prisoner.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, &c.--In this fulsome flattery there was a semblance of truth: nothing more. Felix acted with a degree of vigor and success in suppressing lawless violence [JOSEPHUS, Antiquities, 20.8.4; confirmed by TACITUS, Annals, 12.54]. by thy providence--a phrase applied to the administration of the emperors.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Be not further tedious unto thee - By taking up your time with an introduction and with commendation.
The words behind it
15 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἵνα | ina | In order that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| μὴ | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| ἐπὶ | epi | to | G1909 → | 883 times |
| πλεῖόν | pleion | any longer | G4119 → | 45 times |
| σε | se | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἐγκόπτω, | egkopto | I may be a hindrance, | G1465 → | |
| παρακαλῶ | parakalo | I implore | G3870 → | 108 times |
| ἀκοῦσαί | akousai | to hear | G191 → | 425 times |
| σε | se | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἡμῶν | hemon | us | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| συντόμως | suntomos | briefly | G4935 → | |
| τῇ | tea | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| σῇ | sea | in your | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἐπιεικείᾳ. | epieikeia | kindness. | G1932 → |
ἵναIn order that
inaG2443 →668 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
μὴnot
meG3361 →1066 times
ἐπὶto
epiG1909 →883 times
πλεῖόνany longer
pleionG4119 →45 times
σεyou
seG4771 →2973 times
ἐγκόπτω,I may be a hindrance,
egkoptoG1465 →
παρακαλῶI implore
parakaloG3870 →108 times
ἀκοῦσαίto hear
akousaiG191 →425 times
σεyou
seG4771 →2973 times
ἡμῶνus
hemonG3165 →1936 times
συντόμωςbriefly
suntomosG4935 →
τῇ<the>
teaG3588 →19766 times
σῇin your
seaG4771 →2973 times
ἐπιεικείᾳ.kindness.
epieikeiaG1932 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
5 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Hebrews 11:32And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets,
it leads to
- 1 Samuel 1:20
So in the course of time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.”
- 1 Samuel 16:1
Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending…
- 1 Samuel 16:13
So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and…
- Judges 13:1–16
Again the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD, so He delivered them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years.
- Judges 11:1–12
Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor; he was the son of a prostitute, and Gilead was his father.
- 1 Samuel 1:20
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Acts
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 50; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.