κράτιστος, -7, -ov, superl. of the adj. κρατύς, (xpdros), [fr. (Hom.) Pind. down], mightiest, strongest, noblest, most illustrious, best, most excellent: voc. κράτιστε used in addressing men of conspicuous rank or office, Acts xxiii. 26; xxiv. 3; xxvi. 25, (Otto, De ep. ad Diognetum ete. Jena 1845, p. 79 sqq., and in his Epist. ad Diognet. Leips. ed. p. 53 sq., has brought together exx. fr. later writ.). Perhaps also it served simply to express friendship in Lk. i. 3 (as in Theophr. char. 5; Dion. Hal. de oratt. 1; Joseph. antt. 4, 6, 8), because in Acts i. 1 it is omitted in addressing the same person. Cf. Grimm in Jahrbb. f. deutsche Theol. for 1871, p.50 sq.

κράτιστος kratistos 4x

strongest; in NT κράτιστε, a term of respect, most excellent, noble, or illustrious, Lk. 1:3; Acts 23:26; 24:3; 26:25*

κράτιστος, -η, -ον,

superl. of κρατύς (Hom.),

strongest, mightiest (Hom.).

noblest, best (cf. κρείσσων), most excellent (Pind., Soph., al.): voc., κρατίστε, as title of honour and respect (DCG, ii, 727a), Lk 1:3, Ac 23:26 24:3 26:25.†

κράτιστος (egregius) is very common as an honorific title in addressing persons of exalted rank, much as we use ‘‘ Your Excellency,” e.g. P Fay 117° (A.D. 108)—a prefect, P Tebt II. 411° (ii/A.D.)—an epistrategus, P Oxy X. 12741° (iii/A.D.) —a procurator, a/. [By the end of the third century the title was applied to persons of less importance, e.g. a ducenarius in P Oxy XIV. 17114: see the editors’ note on 24. 16437.] This corresponds with the usage in Ac 23°8, 24%, 26°5, and possibly Lk 1°, though in this last case the word may be simply a form of courteous address. If, however, it is regarded here also as official, it is very unlikely that Theophilus was at the time a Christian, ‘‘since,” as Zahn (/n¢rod. iil. p. 42) has pointed out, ‘‘ there is no instance in the Christian literature of the first two centuries where a Christian uses a secular title in addressing another Christian, to say nothing of a title of this character.’’ On the title as applied to the βουλή of Antinoé in BGU IV. 1022! (a.D. 196) see Wilcken in Archiv iii. p. 301, and cf. the introd. to P Strass I. 43. The adj. is never found as a true superlative in the NT, but is so found in literary books of the LXX (cf. Thackeray Gr. i. p. 185): cf. BGU IV. 1118" (B.c. 22) τῶν ὄντων ἐν τῶι κήπωι τὰ κράτιστα Kal βέλτιστα,

κράτιστος (kratistos) — excellent. κρᾰτιστ-ος, η, ον, Epic dialect κάρτ- (as always in [Refs 8th c.BC+], strongest, mightiest, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; Λημνίων τὸ κ. the best of their men, [Refs] the strength or flower of.., [Refs 5th c.BC+], etc.; of things, καρτίστην.. μάχην fiercest fight, [Refs 8th c.BC+].

2. generally, best, most excellent, as superlative of ἀγαθός, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οἱ κράτιστοι the aristocracy, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

2. b as a title or mode of address, [NT]; especially = Latin egregius, [Refs 1st c.AD+], of a woman of the equester ordo, [Refs] Latin clarissimus, of Senators, ὁ κ. ἀνθὐπατος [Refs 3rd c.AD+]

2. c with modal words added, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πάντων πάντα κ. best of all in.., [Refs 6th c.BC+]: with infinitive, best at doing, [Refs 5th c.BC+], etc.: with participle, [Refs].

3. neuter followed by infinitive, φυγέειν κάρτιστον to flee were best, [Refs 8th c.BC+]: absolutely, ὅπερ κ. the main point, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

4. adverb usages, ἀπὸ τοῦ κρατίστου in all good faith, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]: neuter plural κράτιστα as adverb, [Refs 5th c.BC+] —The _comparative_ in use is κρείσσων (which see).