Lexical Summary Sósthenés: Sosthenes Original Word: Σωσθένης Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Sosthenes. From the base of sozo and that of sthenoo; of safe strength; Sosthenes, a Christian -- Sosthenes. see GREEK sozo see GREEK sthenoo NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as sózó and sthenoó Definition "of safe strength," Sosthenes, the name of a ruler of a synagogue and of a Christian NASB Translation Sosthenes (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4988: ΣωσθένηςΣωσθένης, Σωσθενου, ὁ, Sosthenes; 1. the ruler of the Jewish synagogue at Corinth, and an opponent of Christianity: Acts 18:17. 2. a certain Christian, an associate of the apostle Paul: 1 Corinthians 1:1. The name was a common one among the Greeks. Sosthenes unites the ideas of salvation and strength, suggesting a man whose security is found in God’s power rather than human resources. Biblical Occurrences 1. Acts 18:17 – “At this, the crowd seized Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the judgment seat. But none of this was of concern to Gallio.” Historical Setting in Acts Paul’s second missionary journey brought him to Corinth, a city known for commerce, immorality, and religious pluralism. After Crispus, the original synagogue ruler, believed in Christ (Acts 18:8), Sosthenes appears to have succeeded him. When unbelieving Jews attempted to silence Paul through Roman litigation, Gallio dismissed the case, provoking the mob violence described in Acts 18:17. That beating, whether carried out by Greeks or by disgruntled synagogue members, left Sosthenes publicly humiliated while Gallio remained indifferent. Identity and Unity of the Two References The New Testament names are uncommon, and Corinth provides the backdrop for both mentions, making it highly probable that the synagogue ruler of Acts became the Christian brother in 1 Corinthians 1:1. If so, the man once beaten for issues surrounding Paul ended up willingly associating himself with the apostle, a striking testimony to the gospel’s transforming power. Even if two different men are in view, the Corinthian context still ties the name to the same congregation. Ministry Role with Paul By the time Paul writes 1 Corinthians (circa A.D. 54–55), Sosthenes is not merely a convert but a trusted coworker whose name stands beside that of an apostle at the head of a canonical letter. His inclusion suggests: Theological Significance Sosthenes embodies the sovereignty of God in salvation. A synagogue leader assaulted in public becomes a herald of the gospel to the very community that beat him. His account illustrates: 1. God’s ability to redeem persecution for ministry advancement. Lessons for Believers • Courage: Faithfulness may draw hostility (Matthew 5:10–12), yet God can repurpose suffering into service. Reception in Church Tradition Later Christian writers occasionally identify Sosthenes with the Seventy disciples of Luke 10 or as a future bishop in Caesarea, though such claims rest on conjecture rather than inspired text. Nevertheless, early tradition consistently honors him as a steadfast companion of Paul and an example of synagogue-to-church transition. Summary Sosthenes appears briefly yet meaningfully in Scripture. Whether beaten synagogue ruler turned Christian emissary, or simply a believer of the same name, he stands as a witness that God rescues, strengthens, and employs His people for the advance of the gospel among both Jews and Gentiles. Englishman's Concordance Acts 18:17 N-AMSGRK: δὲ πάντες Σωσθένην τὸν ἀρχισυνάγωγον NAS: took hold of Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, KJV: took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, INT: moreover all Sosthenes the ruler of the synagogue 1 Corinthians 1:1 N-NMS Strong's Greek 4988 |
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