Sosthenes was the synagogue ruler in Corinth during Paul's stay there. He was beaten by the crowd before the proconsul Gallio's court after the Jews' charges against Paul were dismissed. He may be the same Sosthenes later mentioned as a co-sender of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, which could indicate that he became a Christian.
Key events
Becomes synagogue ruler
Sosthenes likely took over as synagogue ruler in Corinth after Crispus, the former ruler, became a Christian and left the synagogue.
8Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, came to believe in the Lord together with his whole household, and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.
17Then they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the judgment seat. But none of this concerned Gallio in the least.
The Jews in Corinth brought Paul before proconsul Gallio and accused him of persuading people to worship God contrary to the law, but Gallio rejected the case as an internal religious matter.
14Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, "If this were a matter of some crime or serious wrongdoing, you Jews, I would have good reason to hear you out.
17Then they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the judgment seat. But none of this concerned Gallio in the least.
A Sosthenes is mentioned together with Paul as a co-sender of the first letter to the Corinthians. If this is the same person, it suggests that he later became a Christian and a fellow worker with the apostle.