Claudius Lysias

Claudius Lysias was the chief captain (a Roman tribune) commanding the garrison in Jerusalem when a mob seized Paul in the temple. He rescued Paul from being beaten to death, bound him with two chains, and at first mistook him for an Egyptian rebel. He was about to have Paul examined by scourging when he learned that Paul was a Roman citizen by birth, while Lysias had bought his own citizenship 'with a great sum.' After a near riot in the council and the discovery of a plot by more than forty men to kill Paul, he sent him by night under heavy guard to the governor Felix at Caesarea, with a letter stating that Paul had done nothing worthy of death or of bonds.

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Biography

Occupation: Chief captain (tribune) of the Roman garrison in Jerusalem
Era: New Testament (Acts)
Nationality: Roman (citizenship purchased)
Also Known As: Lysias

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Did You Know?

His letter to Felix tells the story in his own favor: he writes that he rescued Paul 'having understood that he was a Roman' (Acts 23:27), though Acts 22 shows he learned of Paul's citizenship only after ordering him scourged.

His Roman name Claudius alongside the Greek name Lysias suggests he took the name of the emperor Claudius when he bought his citizenship, a common practice for new citizens of that time.

The escort he sent with Paul to Caesarea was large: two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen, setting out 'at the third hour of the night' (Acts 23:23).

Key Chapters

Acts 21 Paul Arrives in Jerusalem 6 min read Roman order becomes God's instrument to preserve Paul's life when the crowd is s... Acts 22 Paul's Defense Before the Crowd 5 min read Paul's citizenship halts the scourging, and the commander who bought his own sta... Acts 23 The Plot Against Paul 6 min read Lysias listens privately to Paul's nephew and acts quickly, keeping the conspira...

Key Passages

Rescue from the Mob

Acts 21:31-36

Roman order becomes God's instrument to preserve Paul's life when the crowd is set on killing him.

A³¹nd as they went about to kill him, tidings came unto the chief captain of the band, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.

³² Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul. ³³ Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done. ³⁴ And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude: and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle. ³⁵ And when he came upon the stairs, so it was, that he was borne of the soldiers for the violence of the people. ³⁶ For the multitude of the people followed after, crying, Away with him.

Read full chapter: Acts 21 →

Canst Thou Speak Greek?

Acts 21:37-40

The commander's mistaken assumption gives way to curiosity, and Paul gains a hearing before the people.

A³⁷nd as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek?

³⁸ Art not thou that Egyptian, which before these days madest an uproar, and leddest out into the wilderness four thousand men that were murderers? ³⁹ But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak unto the people. ⁴⁰ And when he had given him licence, Paul stood on the stairs, and beckoned with the hand unto the people. And when there was made a great silence, he spake unto them in the Hebrew tongue, saying,

Read full chapter: Acts 21 →

A Roman Citizen

Acts 22:24-29

Paul's citizenship halts the scourging, and the commander who bought his own status is alarmed to have bound a man born free.

T²⁴he chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him.

²⁵ And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned? ²⁶ When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman. ²⁷ Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea. ²⁸ And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born. ²⁹ Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

Read full chapter: Acts 22 →

The Plot Revealed

Acts 23:19-22

Lysias listens privately to Paul's nephew and acts quickly, keeping the conspiracy from succeeding.

T¹⁹hen the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with him aside privately, and asked him, What is that thou hast to tell me?

²⁰ And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly. ²¹ But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise from thee. ²² So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged him, See thou tell no man that thou hast shewed these things to me.

Read full chapter: Acts 23 →

Letter to Felix

Acts 23:26-30

His letter declares Paul innocent of any crime worthy of death, a Roman official's testimony that Luke preserves word for word.

C²⁶laudius Lysias unto the most excellent governor Felix sendeth greeting.

²⁷ 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. ²⁸ And when I would have known the cause wherefore they accused him, I brought him forth into their council: ²⁹ 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. ³⁰ 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. Farewell.