{I cannot come} (ou dunamai elthein). Less polite than
the others but a more plausible pretence if he wanted to make it
so. The law excused a newly married man from war ( De 24:5 ),
"but not from social courtesy" (Ragg). The new wife would
probably have been glad to go with him to the feast if asked. But
see  1Co 7:33 . There is here as often a sharp difference between
the excuses offered and the reasons behind them.