Acts 18:8

"And Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized" "Crispus" Paul later mentions this man as one that he had personally baptized (1 Corinthians 1:14). "Ruler of the Synagogue" "The ruler of the synagogue occupied. very important position. No one was eligible to this office until he had. certificate from the Great Sanhedrin. His election, however, was by the members of the synagogue. It was his duty to supervise all matters connected with worship" (Freeman p. 443). This is another case of conversion which should remind us "do not prejudge who might and who might not obey the gospel". Too often we assume, "They would never become. Christian, for the personal sacrifices would be too great". Actually, such an attitude on our part is rather worldly. It is all. matter of perspective. No sacrifice is too great to the person who wants eternal life and. relationship with God (Matthew 13:44).Yes,. honest heart will sacrifice status, power, earthly goods and relationships to become. Christian! "Believed in the Lord" In this verse "believing in the Lord" includes being baptized. The faith that saves is never. mere mental assent or the moment that one believes that Jesus is the Son of God. "With all his house" Not only did the synagogue lose its ruler, it also lost his whole family. There is no infant baptism here, for each member in the household believed for themselves. "And many of the Corinthians" We are given some of their names besides Titus Justus and Gaius. We also are told of Epaenetus, Stephanas (Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:15); Fortunatus and Achaicus (1 Corinthians 16:17), even many of the Corinthians who had been indulging in. sinful lifestyles (1 Corinthians 6:9) believed. Many also came from the lower classes in Corinthian society (1 Corinthians 1:26). "Hearing, believed, and were baptized" These are the same basic steps that we find in the Great Commission (Mark 16:15) and the conversions in the book of Acts (Acts 2:37-38; Acts 8:12; 35-38). "The tense of the two verbs here implies. process going on daily, over. long period of time" (Reese p. 645).