Acts 23:26
in Acts 23Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix, greeting.
KJV
Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.
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This verse in Acts 23
Commentary
6 notes on this verseA commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Claudius--the Roman name he would take on purchasing his citizenship. Lysias--his Greek family name. the most excellent governor--an honorary title of office.
This site's exposition
he wrote a letter after this manner
on Acts 23:25-27
Lysias's letter follows the standard form of a Roman military dispatch, sender's name, addressee's title, and a formal greeting, Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting, the same official style Luke himself opens Luke and Acts with toward Theophilus. The letter states that Lysias rescued Paul only after learning he was a Roman, a claim that shades the truth slightly, since 22:25-29 shows Lysias learned this only after very nearly having Paul scourged. The bench notes the small self-serving edit without judging it harshly, an officer's report naturally cast in the light that serves him best.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
"And he wrote a letter after this manner: Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting. This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman. And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council: whom I perceived to be accused of questions of their law, but to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of bonds. And when it was told me how that the Jews laid wait for the man, I sent straightway to thee, and gave commandment to his accusers also to say before thee what they had against him. Fare ye well." See how the letter speaks for him as a defence-for it says, "I found nothing worthy of death," but as accusation against them rather than against him.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Now that Paul was brought before them he thought to have faced them down, but could not, such was their wicked impudence. However, now was fulfilled in him what God promised to Ezekiel ( ch. iii.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
Claudius Lysias, unto the most excellent Governor Felix,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Unto the most excellent governor Felix - The most honored, etc. This was a mere title of office. Greeting - A term of salutation in an epistle wishing health, joy, and prosperity.
The words behind it
7 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Κλαύδιος | klaudios | Claudius | G2804 → | 3 times |
| Λυσίας | lusias | Lysias | G3079 → | |
| τῷ | to | To the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κρατίστῳ | kratisto | most excellent | G2903 → | 4 times |
| ἡγεμόνι | hegemoni | governor | G2232 → | 20 times |
| Φήλικι | pheliki | Felix | G5344 → | 9 times |
| χαίρειν. | chairein | Greeting. | G5463 → | 74 times |
ΚλαύδιοςClaudius
klaudiosG2804 →3 times
ΛυσίαςLysias
lusiasG3079 →
τῷTo the
toG3588 →19766 times
κρατίστῳmost excellent
kratistoG2903 →4 times
ἡγεμόνιgovernor
hegemoniG2232 →20 times
ΦήλικιFelix
phelikiG5344 →9 times
χαίρειν.Greeting.
chaireinG5463 →74 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Luke 1:3Therefore, having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,
it leads to
- Acts 26:25
But Paul answered, “I am not insane, most excellent Festus; I am speaking words of truth and sobriety.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 1:1
In my first book, O Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach,
- Acts 11:4
But Peter began and explained to them the whole sequence of events:
- Ecclesiastes 12:9
Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught the people knowledge; he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs.
- Acts 24:3
In every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with all gratitude.
- Acts 26:25
Through
Acts 24:3In every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with all gratitude.
it leads to
- Luke 1:3
Therefore, having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Luke 1:3
Through
Acts 15:23and sent them with this letter: The apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.
it leads to
- James 1:1
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes of the Dispersion: Greetings.
- Galatians 1:21
Later I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia.
- James 1:1
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Acts
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); J. A. Alexander, The Acts of the Apostles Explained; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 49; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.