{8} 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.
Next to the Archysynagogus were the Elders or presbyters of the
Synagogue. The person whose office it was to offer up public prayer to
God for the whole congregation, was probably one of these. He was called
_Sheliac Zibbor_, that is, the Angel of the Church, because as their
messenger, he spoke to God for them. Hence the pastors of the seven
churches of Asia, in the book of the Revelation, are called by a name
borrowed from the Synagogue, “Angels of the Churches.”
Under these were inferior officers in every Synagogue, called in Hebrew
_Chezanim_, who were also fixed ministers, and under the rulers of the
Synagogue, had the charge and oversight of all things in it. The deacon
is mentioned in Luke iv. 20.
In every instance, so far as I have observed, our Lord adopted the
institutions of the Jewish Church, unless they were inapplicable to His
new dispensation. “To the end we may understand apostolical tradition to
have been taken from the Old Testament; that which Aaron, and his sons,
and the Levites were in the Temple, Bishops, Presbyters, and Deacons in
the Church may lawfully challenge to themselves.”—_St. Hierom_, _Ep._ 85.
{12a} The liturgy of the Jewish Church, in which our Lord and His
Apostles joined may be found in _Prideaux’s Connection of the Old and New
Testament_.
{12b} Hart’s Answer to Gill’s Reasons.
{14} Hart’s Answer to Gill’s Reasons.
{16} Rev. William Jones’s Works, vol. xi.