SEV Biblia, Chapter 24:4
Pero por no molestarte ms largamente, te ruego que nos oigas brevemente conforme a tu clemencia.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Acts 24:4
Verse 4. That 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 endeavoured to make the best. Felix was a bad man and bad governor; and yet he must praise him, to conciliate his esteem. Paul was a very good man, and nothing amiss could be proved against him; and yet he must endeavour to blacken him as much as possible, in order to please his unprincipled and wicked employers. His oration has been blamed as weak, lame, and imperfect; and yet, perhaps, few, with so bad a cause, could have made better of it.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 4. Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee , etc.] Suggesting, that he could say a great deal more under this head, but, for brevity sake, should omit it; and because he would not tire his patience, and hinder business going forward: I pray thee, that thou wouldst hear us of thy clemency a few words ; he praises him for his humanity and good nature, and for his patience in hearing causes, and promises him great conciseness in the account he should give him; and entreats that, according to his wonted goodness, he would condescend to hear what he had to lay before him; all which was artfully said to engage attention to him.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-9 - See here the unhappiness of great men, and a great unhappiness it is to have their services praised beyond measure, and never to be faithfully told of their faults; hereby they are hardened an encouraged in evil, like Felix. God's prophets were charged with being troublers of the land, and our Lord Jesus Christ, that he perverted the nation; the very same charges were brought against Paul. The selfis and evil passions of men urge them forward, and the graces and power of speech, too often have been used to mislead and prejudice men agains the truth. How different will the characters of Paul and Felix appea at the day of judgement, from what they are represented in the speec of Tertullus! Let not Christians value the applause, or be troubled a the revilings of ungodly men, who represent the vilest of the huma race almost as gods, and the excellent of the earth as pestilences an movers of sedition.
Greek Textus Receptus
ινα 2443 CONJ δε 1161 CONJ μη 3361 PRT-N επι 1909 PREP πλειον 4119 A-ASN-C σε 4571 P-2AS εγκοπτω 1465 5725 V-PAS-1S παρακαλω 3870 5719 V-PAI-1S ακουσαι 191 5658 V-AAN σε 4571 P-2AS ημων 2257 P-1GP συντομως 4935 ADV τη 3588 T-DSF ση 4674 S-2DSF επιεικεια 1932 N-DSF
Vincent's NT Word Studies
4. Be tedious (egkoptw). See on hindered, 1 Pet. iii. 7. The meaning is, rather, "that I may not further hinder thee, or detain thee.Clemency (epieikeia) See on gentle, 1 Pet. ii. 18.
A few words (suntomwv). Lit., concisely. From suntemnw, to cut down or cut short.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
24:4 {That I be not further tedious unto thee} (hina me epi pleion se enkoptw). _Koin_ verb (Hippocrates, Polybius) to cut in on (or into), to cut off, to impede, to hinder. Our modern telephone and radio illustrate it well. In the N.T. (#Ac 24:4; 1Th 2:18; Ga 5:7; Ro 15:22; 1Pe 3:7). "That I may not cut in on or interrupt thee further (epi pleion) in thy reforms." Flattery still. {Of thy clemency} (tei sei epieikeiai). Instrumental case of old word from epieikes and this from epi and eikos (reasonable, likely, fair). "Sweet Reasonableness" (Matthew Arnold), gentleness, fairness. An epieikes man is "one who makes reasonable concessions" (Aristotle, _Eth_. V. 10), while dikaios is "one who insists on his full rights" (Plato, _Leg_. 757 D) as translated by Page. {A few words} (suntomws). Old adverb from suntemnw, to cut together (short), abbreviate. Like dia bracewn in #Heb 13:22. In N.T. only here and #Mr 16 (shorter conclusion).
