The Life of Jesus in Harmony |
Index
rulers of the synagogue
The leader or president of a Synagogue.
As an administrator, he was charged with supervision of all matters pertaining
to the synagogue. He was not a dictator over the congregation. He was elected
by the board of elders to oversee the worship services and the upkeep of the
building. He chose the men to read the Scriptures, to offer prayer, and to preach
or explain the Scripture for each meeting.
If discipline was called for, the ruler of the synagogue could reprimand or
excommunicate a member (Jn 9:22; 16:2, or even order that a scourging or a
whipping be carried out (Mt 10:17; Mark 13:9).
Jairus was a ruler of the synagogue (Mk 5:22; Lk 8:41).