The Greek compound noun archisunagōgos combines archē (chief, ruler) and sunagōgē (synagogue, assembly), meaning 'ruler of the synagogue' or 'synagogue president.' This official was responsible for the orderly conduct of synagogue worship, selecting who would read the Torah, preach, and lead prayers.
The rulers of the synagogue appear at crucial junctures in the Gospels and Acts. Jairus, a synagogue ruler, falls at Jesus's feet pleading for his daughter's life (Mark 5:22–43) — one of the most tender healing accounts in Scripture. Crispus the synagogue ruler of Corinth becomes a believer (Acts 18:8), a remarkable first fruit of Paul's Corinthian ministry. The position concentrated significant religious and social authority — making the conversions of figures like Jairus and Crispus all the more remarkable. No office or status places a person beyond the reach of the gospel or the need for Christ.