Bible Strands
Acts 18:8
Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his whole household believed in the Lord. And many of the Corinthians who heard the message believed and were baptized.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative records Paul’s Corinthian ministry after he moves from the synagogue to the house of Titus Justus. The account notes the immediate response of synagogue leadership and local residents to his preaching.
The words — ἀρχισυνάγωγος (archisynagōgos) denotes the official ruler or administrator of the synagogue, while ἐπίστευσεν (episteusen) means he placed faith or trusted. These terms mark the transition from institutional oversight to personal conviction.
The thread — Household belief and mass baptism appear alongside Paul’s later warnings against baptism into a human leader (1 Corinthians 1:13) and the gospel’s necessity for calling on the Lord (Romans 10:14). The command to preach to all creatures (Mark 16:15) frames this localized response as part of a broader mandate.
Why it lands — The text reports that belief preceded baptism, requiring a conscious response to the preached message. It demands that readers recognize faith as the necessary foundation for any outward religious act.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.
Cross-references
- 1 Corinthians 1:13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?
- Mark 16:15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
- Romans 10:14 How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach?
- Acts 11:14 He will convey to you a message by which you and all your household will be saved.’
- Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the gospel of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
- Genesis 17:27 And all the men of Abraham’s household—both servants born in his household and those purchased from foreigners—were circumcised with him.
- Genesis 18:19 For I have chosen him, so that he will command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, in order that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has promised.”
- Joshua 24:15 But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!”
- Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
- Mark 5:22 A synagogue leader named Jairus arrived, and seeing Jesus, he fell at His feet