Acts 24:4

The NET Bible®

But so that I may not delay you any further, I beg you to hear us briefly with your customary graciousness.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
But, so that I will not burden you any further, I request that you would be kind enough to give us a brief hearing.

King James Version (1611)
Notwithstanding, that I be not farther tedious vnto thee, I pray thee, that thou wouldest heare vs of thy clemencie a few words.

King James Version
Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words.

English Standard Version
But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly.

New American Standard Bible
"But, that I may not weary you further, I beg you to grant us a brief hearing, by your kindness.

New Century Version
But not wanting to take any more of your time, I beg you to be kind and listen to our few words.

Amplified Bible
"But so that I do not weary you further, I beg you to grant us, by your kindness, a brief hearing.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"But, that I may not weary you any further, I beg you to grant us, by your kindness, a brief hearing.

Legacy Standard Bible
But, that I may not weary you any further, I plead with you by your forbearance to hear us briefly.

Berean Standard Bible
But in order not to burden you any further, I beg your indulgence to hear us briefly.

Contemporary English Version
I don't want to bother you, but please be patient with us and listen to me for just a few minutes.

Complete Jewish Bible
But, in order not to take up too much of your time, I beg your indulgence to give us a brief hearing.

Darby Translation
But that I may not too much intrude on thy time, I beseech thee to hear us briefly in thy kindness.

Easy-to-Read Version
But I don't want to take any more of your time. So I will say only a few words. Please be patient.

Geneva Bible (1587)
But that I be not tedious vnto thee, I pray thee, that thou wouldest heare vs of thy courtesie a fewe wordes.

George Lamsa Translation
But while I desire not to weary you with lengthy discussions, nevertheless, I beg you to hear in brief our humble complaint.

Good News Translation
I do not want to take up too much of your time, however, so I beg you to be kind and listen to our brief account.

Lexham English Bible
But so that I may not impose on you for longer, I implore you to hear us briefly with your customary graciousness.

Literal Translation
But that I not hinder you more, I beseech you to hear us briefly in your fairness.

American Standard Version
But, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I entreat thee to hear us of thy clemency a few words.

Bible in Basic English
But, so that I may not make you tired, I make a request to you of your mercy, to give hearing to a short statement.

Hebrew Names Version
But, that I don't delay you, I entreat you to bear with us and hear a few words.

International Standard Version
But so as not to detain you any further, I beg you to hear us briefly with your customary graciousness.

Etheridge Translation
But, not to weary thee with many (words), I pray thee to hear our humbleness with brevity.

Murdock Translation
But, not to weary thee with numerous [fn] , I pray thee to hear our humbleness, in brief.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Notwithstandyng, that I be not tedious vnto thee, I pray thee, that thou wouldest heare vs of thy curtesie a fewe wordes.

English Revised Version
But, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I entreat thee to hear us of thy clemency a few words.

World English Bible
But, that I don't delay you, I entreat you to bear with us and hear a few words.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
I beseech thee of thy clemency to hear us a few words.

Weymouth's New Testament
But--not to detain you too long--I beg you in your forbearance to listen to a brief statement from us.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But lest Y tarie thee lengere, Y preie thee, schortly here vs for thi mekenesse.

Update Bible Version
But, that I not be further tedious to you, I entreat you to hear us of your clemency a few words.

Webster's Bible Translation
Notwithstanding, that I may not be further tedious to thee, I pray thee, that thou wouldst of thy clemency hear us a few words.

New King James Version
Nevertheless, not to be tedious to you any further, I beg you to hear, by your courtesy, a few words from us.

New Living Translation
But I don't want to bore you, so please give me your attention for only a moment.

New Life Bible
We do not want to keep you here too long. I ask you to listen to our few words. You are known to be kind in this way.

New Revised Standard
But, to detain you no further, I beg you to hear us briefly with your customary graciousness.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But, lest I too long detain thee, I beseech thee to hear us concisely in thy considerateness.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But that I be no further tedious to thee, I desire thee of thy clemency to hear us in a few words.

Revised Standard Version
But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Notwithstondinge that I be not tedeous vnto the I praye the that thou woldest heare vs of thy curtesy a feawe wordes.

Young's Literal Translation
and that I may not be further tedious to thee, I pray thee to hear us concisely in thy gentleness;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Notwithstondinge yt I be nomore tedious vnto the, I praye the, that of thy curtesy thou woldest heare vs a few wordes.

Mace New Testament (1729)
but not to trespass upon you too far, be pleas'd to hear what I have to say in brief, with your usual indulgence.

Simplified Cowboy Version
But I will make this short because I know you are a busy man and have better things to do.

Contextual Overview

¹ After five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and an attorney named Tertullus, and they brought formal charges against Paul to the governor. ² When Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, "We have experienced a lengthy time of peace through your rule, and reforms are being made in this nation through your foresight. ³ Most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this everywhere and in every way with all gratitude. ⁴ But so that I may not delay you any further, I beg you to hear us briefly with your customary graciousness. ⁵ For we have found this man to be a troublemaker, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. ⁶ He even tried to desecrate the temple, so we arrested him. When you examine him yourself, you will be able to learn from him about all these things we are accusing him of doing." The Jews also joined in the verbal attack, claiming that these things were true. When the governor gestured for him to speak, Paul replied, "Because I know that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I confidently make my defense. As you can verify for yourself, not more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. They did not find me arguing with anyone or stirring up a crowd in the temple courts or in the synagogues or throughout the city, nor can they prove to you the things they are accusing me of doing. But I confess this to you, that I worship the God of our ancestors according to the Way (which they call a sect), believing everything that is according to the law and that is written in the prophets. I have a hope in God (a hope that these men themselves accept too) that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. This is the reason I do my best to always have a clear conscience toward God and toward people. After several years I came to bring to my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings, which I was doing when they found me in the temple, ritually purified, without a crowd or a disturbance. But there are some Jews from the province of Asia who should be here before you and bring charges, if they have anything against me. Or these men here should tell what crime they found me guilty of when I stood before the council, other than this one thing I shouted out while I stood before them: ‘I am on trial before you today concerning the resurrection of the dead.'" Then Felix, who understood the facts concerning the Way more accurately, adjourned their hearing, saying, "When Lysias the commanding officer comes down, I will decide your case." He ordered the centurion to guard Paul, but to let him have some freedom, and not to prevent any of his friends from meeting his needs. Some days later, when Felix arrived with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. While Paul was discussing righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, "Go away for now, and when I have an opportunity, I will send for you." At the same time he was also hoping that Paul would give him money, and for this reason he sent for Paul as often as possible and talked with him. After two years had passed, Porcius Festus succeeded Felix, and because he wanted to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison. ⁷The Accusations Against Paul After five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and an attorney named Tertullus, and they brought formal charges against Paul to the governor. When Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, "We have experienced a lengthy time of peace through your rule, and reforms are being made in this nation through your foresight. Most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this everywhere and in every way with all gratitude. But so that I may not delay you any further, I beg you to hear us briefly with your customary graciousness. For we have found this man to be a troublemaker, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He even tried to desecrate the temple, so we arrested him. ⁸ When you examine him yourself, you will be able to learn from him about all these things we are accusing him of doing." ⁹ The Jews also joined in the verbal attack, claiming that these things were true.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

that: Hebrews 11:32

Reciprocal: Leviticus 19:16 - stand Jeremiah 26:11 - saying Acts 26:3 - to hear

Cross-References

Genesis 12:7
The Lord appeared to Abram and said, "To your descendants I will give this land." So Abram built an altar there to the Lord , who had appeared to him.

Genesis 24:20
She quickly emptied her jug into the watering trough and ran back to the well to draw more water until she had drawn enough for all his camels.

Genesis 24:23
"Whose daughter are you?" he asked. "Tell me, is there room in your father's house for us to spend the night?"

Genesis 28:2
Leave immediately for Paddan Aram! Go to the house of Bethuel, your mother's father, and find yourself a wife there, among the daughters of Laban, your mother's brother.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee,.... 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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Be not further tedious unto thee - By taking up your time with an introduction and with commendation.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Acts 24:4. 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.