Bible Dictionaries
Sosthenes

Holman Bible Dictionary

(ssahss' thih neez) Personal name meaning, “of safe strength.” A ruler of a synagogue in Corinth (Acts 18:17 ). He apparently assumed the post after Crispus, the former chief ruler, became a Christian under Paul's preaching (Acts 18:8 ). When an attempt to prosecute Paul legally failed, the citizens of the city took revenge and beat Sosthenes. Tradition holds that Sosthenes later was converted and became one of Paul's helpers (1 Corinthians 1:1 ). Whether the two are one person cannot be determined from existing evidence.