Luke 8:49

8:49 While he was still speaking, someone from the synagogue ruler’s ¹  house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher any longer.”

Luke 13:14

13:14 But the president of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the crowd, “There are six days on which work ²  should be done! ³  So come ⁴  and be healed on those days, and not on the Sabbath day.”

Luke 18:18

The Wealthy Ruler

18:18 Now ⁵  a certain ruler ⁶  asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” ⁷ 

Acts 13:15

13:15 After the reading from the law and the prophets, ⁸  the leaders of the synagogue ⁹  sent them a message, ¹⁰  saying, “Brothers, ¹¹  if you have any message ¹²  of exhortation ¹³  for the people, speak it.” ¹⁴ 

¹ tn That is, “the official in charge of the synagogue”; ἀρχισυνάγωγος (arcisunagwgo") refers to the “president of a synagogue” (so BDAG 139 s.v. and L&N 53.93). In this case the referent is Jairus (v. 41).

² sn The irony is that Jesus’ “work” consisted of merely touching the woman. There is no sense of joy that eighteen years of suffering was reversed with his touch.

³ tn Grk “on which it is necessary to work.” This has been simplified in the translation.

⁴ tn The participle ἐρχόμενοι (ercomenoi) has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

⁵ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.

⁶ sn Only Luke states this man is a ruler (cf. the parallels in Matt 19:16-22 and Mark 10:17-22, where the questioner is described only as “someone”). He is probably a civic leader of some kind, a leader in the society.

⁷ sn The rich man wanted to know what he must do to inherit eternal life, but Jesus had just finished teaching that eternal life was not earned but simply received (18:17). See the similar question about inheriting eternal life in Luke 10:25.

⁸ sn After the reading from the law and the prophets. In the 1st century Jewish synagogue, it was customary after the reading of the Torah (law) and prophets for men to give exhortation from the scriptures.

⁹ tn Normally ἀρχισυνάγωγος (arcisunagwgo") refers to the “president of a synagogue” (so BDAG 139 s.v. and L&N 53.93). Since the term is plural here, however, and it would sound strange to the English reader to speak of “the presidents of the synagogue,” the alternative translation “leaders” is used. “Rulers” would also be acceptable, but does not convey quite the same idea.

¹⁰ tn Grk “sent to them”; the word “message” is an understood direct object. Direct objects in Greek were often omitted when clear from the context, but must be supplied for the modern English reader.

¹¹ tn Grk “Men brothers,” but this is both awkward and unnecessary in English.

¹² tn Or “word.”

¹³ tn Or “encouragement.”

¹⁴ tn Or “give it.”