Communal Organization and Leadership: The Archisynagōgos

The figure of the archisynagōgos is known from a number of ancient sources, including Roman-period inscriptions, the New Testament, rabbinic sources, and Roman legal texts. In the land of Israel, the responsibilities of the archisynagōgos included arranging the service in the synagogue and supervision of community affairs. Outside the land of Israel, the archisynagōgos collected charity funds to send to Jews living in the land of Israel.

Perhaps the earliest witnesses, New Testament sources testify to specific individuals holding this leadership position. In Mark 5, Jesus encounters the leader of a synagogue who pleads that Jesus heal his daughter, which he does. In Luke 13, the archisynagōgos objects to Jesus’ healing of a woman who has been suffering for eighteen years. Acts 18 recounts that the leader of the synagogue in Corinth, along with his household and others, becomes a believer in Jesus upon hearing Paul teach. The figure of the archisynagōgos is mentioned in other New Testament texts as well, including Luke 8 and Acts 13. For inscriptions referring to the archisynagōgos, see Synagogue Leadership.