Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix [sendeth] greeting.
Claudius {G2804} Lysias {G3079} unto the most excellent {G2903} governor {G2232} Felix {G5344} sendeth greeting {G5463}.
From: Claudius Lysias
To: His Excellency, Governor Felix:
Greetings!
Claudius Lysias, To His Excellency, Governor Felix: Greetings.
Claudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix, greeting.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.
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Acts 15:23
And they wrote [letters] by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren [send] greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: -
Luke 1:3
It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, -
Acts 24:3
We accept [it] always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. -
Acts 26:25
But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. -
James 1:1
¶ James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. -
3 John 1:14
But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace [be] to thee. [Our] friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.
Acts 23:26 KJV is the opening line of a significant letter within the narrative of Paul's trials, serving as a formal address from a Roman military commander to a provincial governor. It sets the stage for Paul's transfer and continued legal proceedings.
Context
This verse introduces the sender and recipient of a crucial letter in the Apostle Paul's ongoing legal saga. The sender is Claudius Lysias, the chief captain (or tribune) of the Roman garrison in Jerusalem, who had rescued Paul from a mob in the temple courts (see Acts 21:31-32). The recipient is the "most excellent governor Felix," the Roman procurator of Judea, based in Caesarea. Lysias is writing to Felix to explain the circumstances of Paul's arrest, the accusations against him by Jewish leaders, and to transfer Paul's case to Felix's jurisdiction, especially after discovering a plot to assassinate Paul (referenced in Acts 23:12-15). The full content of this important letter is found in Acts 23:27-30, detailing the Roman process for handling such a high-profile prisoner.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "[sendeth] greeting" is a common KJV rendering. The word "sendeth" is supplied by the translators (indicated by the brackets) for clarity, as the original Greek, χαίρειν (chairein), is an infinitive meaning "to rejoice" or "to greet." It was the standard opening salutation in Greek letters, equivalent to "Greetings!" or "Hail!" This simple word conveyed a formal well-wishing and served as the conventional beginning of correspondence in that era.
Practical Application
While seemingly a mundane administrative detail, Acts 23:26 reminds us that God's sovereign plan often unfolds through ordinary human actions and systems. The Roman legal system, though pagan, became an instrument for Paul's protection and advancement of the gospel. It encourages us to see how divine providence can work through various channels, even bureaucratic ones, to accomplish His purposes. It also underscores the importance of proper communication and respect for authority in human affairs, even when those authorities are imperfect.