Kratistos is an honorific adjective used when directly addressing or writing to named men.

The attested use is an honorific applied to named men in direct address or formal written address: Felix is addressed in Acts 23:26 and Acts 24:3, Festus in Acts 26:25, and Theophilus in Luke 1:3.

1. Honorific address to a named man · dominant

   The vocative singular masculine form addresses Felix in Acts 24:3 and Festus in Acts 26:25; the APB renders both clauses with “most excellent” before the name. In Luke 1:3 the same vocative form accompanies the address to Theophilus, while Acts 23:26 uses the dative singular masculine form in a written greeting to Felix; the APB renders the clause “to the most excellent governor Felix.”

   Acts 23:26Acts 24:3Acts 26:25Luke 1:3

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB presents the term as “most excellent” in the greetings and direct addresses to Felix and Festus, and as “excellent” before Theophilus in Luke 1:3. These renderings confirm the honorific setting rather than establish a separate sense.