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RULER OF THE SYNAGOGUE

One of several offices of the Jewish synagogue. The ruler or “elder” or “head” (Gk. archisynágōgos) was responsible for maintaining order in the assembly (Luke 13:14), deciding who was to conduct public worship (Acts 13:15), and keeping the congregation faithful to the Torah (18:1-17).

The ruler was not a scribe, but stood in rank immediately after the office of scribe. A group of elders directed the activities of the local synagogues, and the ruler was probably chosen from among those elders. Jairus (Mark 5:22), Crispus (Acts 18:8), and Sosthenes (v. 17) are mentioned by name in the NT as ruler or head of the synagogue.

Bibliography. L. L. Grabbe, “Synagogues in Pre-70 Palestine: A Re-assessment,” JTS n.s. 39 (1988): 401-10; J. Gutmann, ed., The Synagogue (New York, 1975).

Dale Ellenburg






Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)

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