Note 8 — SHORT REASONS FOR COMMUNION WITH THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND, &c.

The government of every synagogue seems to have borne some resemblance of the general ecclesiastical establishment in the Jewish Church. For there were fixed ministers to take care of the religious duties to be performed therein; and these were by imposition of hands solemnly admitted to their office. He who presided is called in the New Testament Archysynagogus, or the ruler of the Synagogue. This word is sometimes used in a larger sense, for any one of the officers who had power in the affairs of the synagogue. Thus, (Acts xiii. 15.) we read of the rulers of one synagogue, as we also read (Luke iii. 2.) that Annas and Caiaphas were contemporary High Priests, though we know that in a strict sense there could be but one who bore that office. But generally and properly the word Archysynagogus describes the president, or chief of the officers of the synagogue; as Luke xiii. 14. and Acts xviii. 8, 17.