{When I was yet with you} (eti (936e) pros humas). The present
participle takes the time of the verb elegon (imperfect
active), {I used to tell you these things}. So Paul recalls their
memory of his words and leaves us without the clue to his idea.
We know that one of the charges against him was that Jesus was
another king, a rival to Caesar ( Ac 17:7 ). That leads one to
wonder how far Paul went when there in contrasting the kingdom of
the world of which Rome was ruler and the kingdom of God of which
Christ is king. Frame notes Paul's abrupt question here "with an
unfinished sentence behind him" (verses  3f. ), even "with a
trace of impatience."