Acts 23:25
And he wrote a letter after this manner:
Original Language Analysis
γράψας
And he wrote
G1125
γράψας
And he wrote
Strong's:
G1125
Word #:
1 of 6
to "grave", especially to write; figuratively, to describe
περιέχουσαν
after
G4023
περιέχουσαν
after
Strong's:
G4023
Word #:
3 of 6
to hold all around, i.e., include, clasp (figuratively)
τὸν
G3588
τὸν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
4 of 6
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Historical Context
Roman officials communicated through formal letters (litterae) that accompanied prisoners transferred between jurisdictions. Such documents established legal continuity and protected officials from liability for improper procedures.
Questions for Reflection
- How does careful documentation and due process reflect God's character of justice?
- Why might Luke include such administrative details in his theological narrative?
Analysis & Commentary
And he wrote a letter after this manner (Greek grapsas epistolen, γράψας ἐπιστολὴν) introduces Claudius Lysias' official correspondence to Felix. Luke's inclusion of this letter (vv. 26-30) provides rare documentary evidence within Acts' narrative. Roman military reports followed standardized formats—sender, recipient, greeting, body, closing. This administrative detail demonstrates Luke's historical precision and provides legal documentation of Paul's innocence from Roman perspective. The letter becomes part of Paul's judicial record supporting his appeals.