· Translation: KJV

Acts 24:4But, that I don't delay you, I entreat you to bear with us and hear a few words.

The setting

Caesarea Maritima, ~58 AD. Roman governor's palace. Jewish lawyer Tertullus begins his prosecution of Paul before Felix...

The emotion here: calculating professional confidence

The original word

enkoptō (ἐγκόπτω) — to cut into, interrupt, like cutting a road to block travel

Why it matters

Tertullus was likely a professional Roman advocate hired by the Jewish leaders

Read with care

What most readers miss in Acts 24:4

This is classic Roman legal flattery - the 'brief words' will actually be a lengthy accusation

Common misconceptionPeople think this shows politeness, but it's actually manipulative legal rhetoric designed to butter up the judge before devastating accusations.

Bible Genome reading

Acts 24:4 — Bible Genome reading

SpeakerTertullus
Eraearly_church
Primary emotionseeking
Literary typelaw

Emotional genome

Comfort power10%
Quotability20%
Memorability10%
Crisis relevance50%
Standalone20%
Themes:petitioncourtesy

In context

No verse stands alone.

Read the conversation around it.

Open Acts 24

Acts 24:4 comes from the book of Acts, written during the early_church period. These words are attributed to Tertullus. The dominant emotion in this verse is seeking, with a comfort power of 10% and a tone that is conversational. It belongs to the law genre of biblical literature. Key themes include petition, courtesy. Notable phrases: I entreat you; bear with us.

Your reflection

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