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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Topical Bible: Lysanias</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/topical/l/lysanias.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newtopical.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/topical/vmenus/luke/3-1.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcde/l/lysanias.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/topical/">Topical</a> > Lysanias</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/topical/l/lyres.htm" title="Lyres">◄</a> Lysanias <a href="/topical/l/lysa'ni-as.htm" title="Lysa'ni-as">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse">Jump to: <a href="#hit" title="Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary">Hitchcock's</a> • <a href="#smi" title="Smith's Bible Dictionary">Smith's</a> • <a href="#amt" title="American Tract Society Bible Dictionary">ATS</a> • <a href="#isb" title="International Standard Bible Encyclopedia">ISBE</a> • <a href="#eas" title="Easton's Bible Dictionary">Easton's</a> • <a href="#cnc" title="Multiversion Concordance">Concordance</a> • <a href="#thes" title="Bible Thesaurus">Thesaurus</a> • <a href="#grk" title="Strong's Greek Concordance">Greek</a> • <a href="#lib" title="Library">Library</a> • <a href="#sub" title="Subtopics">Subtopics</a> • <a href="#rel" title="Related Terms">Terms</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><a name="te" id="te"></a><div class="vheading2">Topical Encyclopedia</div>Lysanias is a historical figure mentioned in the New Testament, specifically in the Gospel of Luke. He is identified as a tetrarch during the time of John the Baptist's ministry, providing a chronological marker for the events described in the Gospel. The reference to Lysanias is found in <a href="/luke/3.htm">Luke 3:1</a>, which states: "In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene."<br><br><b>Historical Context</b><br><br>Lysanias is associated with the region of Abilene, which is located in the vicinity of Mount Hermon, near the border of modern-day Lebanon and Syria. The historical context of Lysanias' rule is somewhat complex due to the existence of multiple rulers with the same name. The Lysanias mentioned in Luke is often distinguished from an earlier Lysanias, who was the ruler of Chalcis and was executed by Mark Antony around 36 BC. This earlier Lysanias was the son of Ptolemy, son of Mennaeus, and his execution led to the confiscation of his territories.<br><br>The Lysanias of <a href="/luke/3.htm">Luke 3:1</a> is believed to be a later ruler, possibly a descendant or relative of the earlier Lysanias. Historical records, including inscriptions, suggest that a Lysanias was indeed ruling in the region of Abilene during the early first century AD, aligning with the timeframe of John the Baptist's ministry and the beginning of Jesus' public life.<br><br><b>Role in the Gospel of Luke</b><br><br>The mention of Lysanias in the Gospel of Luke serves a specific purpose. Luke, known for his attention to historical detail, uses the reference to Lysanias to provide a precise historical setting for the events he describes. By listing the various political figures of the time, including Lysanias, Luke situates the ministry of John the Baptist and the subsequent emergence of Jesus within a well-defined historical framework. This approach underscores the historical reality of the Gospel narrative and affirms the reliability of the account.<br><br><b>Theological Implications</b><br><br>From a theological perspective, the mention of Lysanias, along with other political leaders, highlights the intersection of divine action and human history. The Gospel of Luke emphasizes that the coming of Jesus Christ occurred within a specific historical context, fulfilling God's redemptive plan. The inclusion of figures like Lysanias serves to remind readers that God's work in the world is not abstract or detached from reality but is deeply embedded in the historical and political circumstances of the time.<br><br><b>Conclusion</b><br><br>While Lysanias is a relatively minor figure in the biblical narrative, his mention in the Gospel of Luke contributes to the historical credibility of the Gospel account. It reflects Luke's meticulous approach to documenting the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, situating these events within the broader tapestry of first-century history.<a name="hit" id="hit"></a><div class="vheading2">Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary</div><span class="encheading">Lysanias</span><p>that drives away sorrow<a name="smi" id="smi"></a><div class="vheading2">Smith's Bible Dictionary</div><span class="encheading">Lysanias</span><p>(<i>that drives away sorrow</i>), mentioned by St. Luke in one of his chronological passages, ch. (<a href="/luke/3-1.htm">Luke 3:1</a>) as being tetrarch. of Abilene (i.e. the district round Abila) in the thirteenth year of Tiberius (A.D. 26), at the time when Herod Antipas was tetrarch of Galilee and Herod Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis.<a name="amt" id="amt"></a><div class="vheading2">ATS Bible Dictionary</div><span class="encheading">Lysanias</span><p>See <a href="../a/abilene.htm">ABILENE</a>. </p><a name="eas" id="eas"></a><div class="vheading2">Easton's Bible Dictionary</div>Tetrarch of Abilene (<a href="/luke/3-1.htm">Luke 3:1</a>), on the eastern slope of Anti-Lebanon, near the city of Damascus. <a name="isb" id="isb"></a><div class="vheading2">International Standard Bible Encyclopedia</div><span class="encheading">LYSANIAS</span><p>li-sa'-ni-as (Lusanias): Mentioned in <a href="/luke/3-1.htm">Luke 3:1</a> as tetrarch of Abilene in the 15th year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, and thus fixing the date of the preaching of John the Baptist in the wilderness at about 26 or 28 A.D. A Lysanias is mentioned by Josephus as having ruled over Chalcis and Abilene, and as having been slain by Mark Antony at the instigation of Cleopatra. As this happened about 36 B.C., Luke has been charged with inaccuracy. Inscriptions, however, corroborate the view that the Lysanias of Luke was probably a descendant of the Lysanias mentioned by Josephus (compare Schurer, H J the Priestly Code (P), div I, volume II, App. 1, p. 338).<br><br>C. M. Kerr<p><a name="grk" id="grk"></a><div class="vheading2">Greek</div><a href="/greek/3078.htm"><span class="l">3078. Lusanias -- "ending sorrow," <b>Lysanias</b>, a governor of Abilene</span></a> <br><b>...</b> 3077, 3078. Lusanias. 3079 . "ending sorrow," <b>Lysanias</b>, a governor of Abilene.<br> Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: Lusanias Phonetic Spelling <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3078.htm</font><font color="#ff6600" size="-1"> - 6k</font><a name="lib" id="lib"></a><div class="vheading2">Library</div><p><a href="/library/pamphilius/church_history/chapter_ix_the_times_of_pilate.htm"><span class="l">The Times of Pilate.</span></a> <br><b>...</b> Augustus, and how, after he had reigned ten years, he lost his kingdom, and his<br> brothers Philip [163] and Herod the younger, [164] with <b>Lysanias</b>, [165] still <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter ix the times of pilate.htm</font><p><a href="/library/josephus/the_antiquities_of_the_jews/book_17_footnotes.htm"><span class="l">Book 17 Footnotes</span></a> <br><b>...</b> This other was <b>Lysanias</b>, whom Luke mentions, of the posterity of that <b>Lysanias</b> who<br> was possessed of the same country called Abilene, from the city Abila, and <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 17 footnotes.htm</font><p><a href="/library/erdman/the_gospel_of_luke_an_exposition/a_the_preaching_of_john.htm"><span class="l">The Preaching of John. Ch. 3:1-20</span></a> <br><b>...</b> governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip<br> tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and <b>Lysanias</b> tetrarch of <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../erdman/the gospel of luke an exposition/a the preaching of john.htm</font><p><a href="/library/unknown/the_decretals/ancient_syriac_documents_martyrdom_of.htm"><span class="l">Martyrdom of Habib the Deacon.</span></a> <br><b>...</b> the Sharirs of the city, the men who had been appointed with reference to this<br> particular matter, heard of it, they went in and informed <b>Lysanias</b>, the governor <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../unknown/the decretals/ancient syriac documents martyrdom of.htm</font><p><a href="/library/pamphilius/church_history/chapter_iv_after_the_death_of.htm"><span class="l">After the Death of Tiberius, Caius Appointed Agrippa King of the <b>...</b></span></a> <br><b>...</b> [293] He immediately gave the government of the Jews to Agrippa, [294] making him<br> king over the tetrarchies of Philip and of <b>Lysanias</b>; in addition to which he <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter iv after the death of.htm</font><p><a href="/library/augustine/the_harmony_of_the_gospels/chapter_vi_on_the_position_given.htm"><span class="l">On the Position Given to the Preaching of John the Baptist in all <b>...</b></span></a> <br><b>...</b> governor of Jud??a, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch<br> of Itur??a and of the region of Trachonitis, and <b>Lysanias</b> the tetrarch <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter vi on the position given.htm</font><p><a href="/library/mcgarvey/the_four-fold_gospel/xvii_john_the_baptists_person.htm"><span class="l">John the Baptist's Person and Preaching.</span></a> <br><b>...</b> rock and boulders, tossed about in the wildest confusion, and intermingled with<br> fissures and crevices in every direction"], and <b>Lysanias</b> [Profane history gives <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xvii john the baptists person.htm</font><p><a href="/library/unknown/the_decretals/ancient_syriac_documents_martyrdom_of_2.htm"><span class="l">Martyrdom of the Holy Confessors Shamuna, Guria, and Habib, from <b>...</b></span></a> <br><b>...</b> But, when Licinius swayed the sceptre of the Roman empire and <b>Lysanias</b> had appointed<br> governor of Edessa, a persecution was again raised against the Christians <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../unknown/the decretals/ancient syriac documents martyrdom of 2.htm</font><p><a href="/library/paley/evidences_of_christianity/chapter_vi_one_argument_which.htm"><span class="l">One Argument which Has Been Much Relied Upon but not More than Its <b>...</b></span></a> <br><b>...</b> palace, Caligula put a crown upon his head, and appointed him king of the tetrarchie<br> of Philip, intending also to give him the tetrarchie of <b>Lysanias</b>." (Antiq. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../paley/evidences of christianity/chapter vi one argument which.htm</font><p><a href="/library/josephus/the_antiquities_of_the_jews/book_18_footnotes.htm"><span class="l">Book 18 Footnotes</span></a> <br><b>...</b> [27] Although Caius now promised to give Agrippa the tetrarchy of <b>Lysanias</b>, yet<br> was it not actually conferred upon him till the reign of Claudius, as we learn <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 18 footnotes.htm</font><a name="thes" id="thes"></a><div class="vheading2">Thesaurus</div><a href="/topical/l/lysanias.htm"><span class="l"><b>Lysanias</b> (1 Occurrence)</span></a><br><b>...</b> Tetrarch of Abilene (Luke 3:1), on the eastern slope of Anti-Lebanon, near the<br> city of Damascus. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. <b>LYSANIAS</b>. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/l/lysanias.htm - 7k</font><p><a href="/topical/a/abilene.htm"><span class="l">Abilene (1 Occurrence)</span></a><br><b>...</b> and 18 from the latter. <b>Lysanias</b> was governor or tetrarch of this province.<br> Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ABILENE. a-bi-le'-ne <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/abilene.htm - 9k</font><p><a href="/topical/i/ituraea.htm"><span class="l">Ituraea (1 Occurrence)</span></a><br><b>...</b> compelled many of them to be circumcised, and added a great part of their territory<br> to Judea, 140 BC (Ant., XIII, xi, 3). Dio Cassius calls <b>Lysanias</b> "king of <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/i/ituraea.htm - 10k</font><p><a href="/topical/l/lysa'ni-as.htm"><span class="l">Lysa'ni-as (1 Occurrence)</span></a><br>Lysa'ni-as. <b>Lysanias</b>, Lysa'ni-as. Lysanius . Multi-Version Concordance<br> Lysa'ni-as (1 Occurrence). <b>...</b> <b>Lysanias</b>, Lysa'ni-as. Lysanius . Reference Bible. <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/l/lysa'ni-as.htm - 6k</font><p><a href="/topical/t/tetrarch.htm"><span class="l">Tetrarch (5 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> synonymous with "ethnarch" at least the Romans made a distinction between Herod<br> "tetrarch" of Galilee, Philip "tetrarch" of Trachonitis, <b>Lysanias</b> "tetrarch" of <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/t/tetrarch.htm - 9k</font><p><a href="/topical/a/agrippa.htm"><span class="l">Agrippa (12 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> The Roman emperor Caligula made him governor first of the territories of Philip,<br> then of the tetrarchy of <b>Lysanias</b>, with the title of king ("king Herod"), and <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/agrippa.htm - 11k</font><p><a href="/topical/a/artemas.htm"><span class="l">Artemas (1 Occurrence)</span></a><br><b>...</b> The Athenian orator, Lysias, was doubtless named after his grandfather, <b>Lysanias</b>,<br> and at first may even have been called <b>Lysanias</b> himself. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/artemas.htm - 7k</font><p><a href="/topical/l/lyres.htm"><span class="l">Lyres (21 Occurrences)</span></a><br><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/l/lyres.htm - 13k</font><p><a href="/topical/h/herod.htm"><span class="l">Herod (45 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> He was made tetrarch of the provinces formerly held by <b>Lysanias</b> II., and ultimately<br> possessed the entire kingdom of his grandfather, Herod the Great, with the <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/h/herod.htm - 57k</font><p><a href="/topical/j/judea.htm"><span class="l">Judea (50 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch<br> of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and <b>Lysanias</b> tetrarch of <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/j/judea.htm - 22k</font><p><a name="res" id="res"></a><div class="vheading2">Resources</div><a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/what-year-was-Jesus-born.html">What year was Jesus Christ born? When was Jesus born? | GotQuestions.org</a><br /><br /><a href="/concordance/">Bible Concordance</a> • <a href="/dictionary/">Bible Dictionary</a> • <a href="/encyclopedia/">Bible Encyclopedia</a> • <a href="/topical/">Topical Bible</a> • <a href="/thesaurus/">Bible Thesuarus</a></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="cnc" id="cnc"></a><div class="vheading2">Concordance</div><span class="encheading">Lysanias (1 Occurrence)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/luke/3-1.htm">Luke 3:1</a></span><br />Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and <span class="boldtext">Lysanias</span> tetrarch of Abilene,<br /><span class="source">(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY YLT NAS NIV)</span><a name="sub" id="sub"></a><div class="vheading2">Subtopics</div><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/l/lysanias.htm">Lysanias</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/naves/l/lysanias--a_tetrarch.htm">Lysanias: A Tetrarch</a></p><a name="rel" id="rel"></a><div class="vheading2">Related Terms</div><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/l/lysanias.htm">Lysanias (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/l/lysanius.htm">Lysanius (1 Occurrence)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/topical/l/lyres.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Lyres"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Lyres" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/topical/l/lysa'ni-as.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Lysa'ni-as"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Lysa'ni-as" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div> <div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"><script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></div></td></tr></table></div></div></div> <br /><br /> <div align="center"> <div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>