LYSANIAS. This tetrarch of Abilene is mentioned only in Luke 3:1 . St. Luke has been accused of gross inaccuracy here, and is said to he referring to a Lysanias who died b.c. 36. But that Lysanias was king (not tetrarch) of chalcis (not Abilene). Josephus speaks of ‘Ahila of Lysanias’ and of a tetrarchy of Lysanias; he is confirmed on the latter point by a medal and an inscription. Thus Luke’s statement is made at least quite probable. Perhaps Lysanias was a dynastic name of the rulers of Abilene. Ahila was the capital of Abilene, and lay on the N. side of Mount Hermon. See also Abilene.
A. J. Maclean.