Codex Bezae

Greco-Roman manuscript

Also known as: Codex Bezae Cantabrigiensis

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June 24, 2026

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The Codex Bezae, also known as Codex Cantabrigiensis, is a significant 5th-century manuscript. It presents a unique bilingual text, with facing pages in Greek and Latin. This manuscript contains most of the four Gospels and the Book of Acts, along with a small portion of the Third Epistle of John.

What makes the Codex Bezae particularly noteworthy is its distinct textual tradition, especially in the Gospels of Luke and the Book of Acts. It often features longer or shorter readings compared to other ancient manuscripts, suggesting it represents a separate textual edition. The text of Acts in Codex Bezae is notably about one-tenth longer than in other versions, and it is considered a prime example of the Western text type. The manuscript was acquired by Theodore Beza in 1562 and later presented to the University of Cambridge in 1581.12

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Theodore Beza
… from his library the celebrated Codex Bezae (D), an important manuscript from about the 5th century bearing Greek and Latin texts of the Gospels and Acts and supplemented by Beza’s commentary based on the Calvinist viewpoint. Other works among Beza’s own writings include anti-Catholic tracts, a biography of Calvin, and…
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… from his library the celebrated Codex Bezae (D), an important manuscript from about the 5th century bearing Greek and Latin texts of the Gospels and Acts and supplemented by Beza’s commentary based on the Calvinist viewpoint. Other works among Beza’s own writings include anti-Catholic tracts, a biography of Calvin, and…
Read More

biblical literature
Uncials
D, Codex Bezae Cantabrigiensis, is a 5th-century Greco-Roman bilingual text (with Greek and Latin pages facing each other). D contains most of the four Gospels and Acts and a small part of III John and is thus designated D^ea (e, for evangelia, or “gospels”; and a…
Read More
D, Codex Bezae Cantabrigiensis, is a 5th-century Greco-Roman bilingual text (with Greek and Latin pages facing each other). D contains most of the four Gospels and Acts and a small part of III John and is thus designated D^ea (e, for evangelia, or “gospels”; and a…
Read More