inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Acts 24:4)

Many languages distinguish between inclusive and exclusive first-person plural pronouns (“we”). (Click or tap here to see more details)

The inclusive “we” specifically includes the addressee (“you and I and possibly others”), while the exclusive “we” specifically excludes the addressee (“he/she/they and I, but not you”). This grammatical distinction is called “clusivity.” While Semitic languages such as Hebrew or most Indo-European languages such as Greek or English do not make that distinction, translators of languages with that distinction have to make a choice every time they encounter “we” or a form thereof (in English: “we,” “our,” or “us”).

For this verse, translators typically select the exclusive form (excluding Felix).

Source: Velma Pickett and Florence Cowan in Notes on Translation January 1962, p. 1ff.

complete verse (Acts 24:4)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 24:4:

  • Uma: “But, so as to not waste the Governor’s time needlessly, I hope for / trust in love/kindness from [you] Governor to please listen to my few words.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “I do not want to delay you long,’ he said, ‘but I beg your forgiveness, do listen to us (excl.) for a short while.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Now it is not my desire that you be detained by what I have to say, but I beg you to listen for a while to what I have to tell you.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But I don’t want to distract you (sing.) (i.e. from normal duties), so if possible may you (sing.) please have-patience to listen to this little that we (excl.) will say.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Even though we (excl.) will disturb your work, we (excl.) want you to let yourself be delayed even for just a short while, for if possible/acceptable you will just listen to this talk of ours(excl.).” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 24:4

I do not want to take up too much of your time is understood in this same fashion by most other translations, though it is faintly possible that the meaning may be “I do not want to tire you out.” Ancient orators, as well as modern, felt it advisable to promise their hearers only a short speech. To be kind and listen (literally “to listen with kindness”) is an expression which appears frequently in the papyri and is often used in complimentary addresses to officials. Our brief account may be rendered as “but we shall say briefly,” “what I shall say briefly,” or “what I shall say briefly on behalf of us here.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .