Sosthenes (Greek: Σωσθένης, ''Sōsthénēs'', "safe in strength") was the chief ruler of the synagogue at

Corinth Corinth ( ; el, Κόρινθος, Kórinthos, ) is the successor to an ancient city, and is a former municipality in Corinthia, Peloponnese, which is located in south-central Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform, it has been part ...

, who, according to the Acts of the Apostles, was seized and beaten by the mob in the presence of Gallio, the Roman governor, when Gallio refused to proceed against Paul at the instigation of the Jews (). The motives of this assault against Sosthenes are not recorded. Some manuscripts insert the mob was composed of "Greeks"; others read "Jews". Some historians identify this Sosthenes with a companion of Paul the Apostle referred to as "Sosthenes our brother" ( gr, Σωσθένης ὁ ἀδελφός, ''Sōsthénēs ho adelphós'', literally "Sosthenes ''the'' brother"), a convert to the Christian faith and co-author of the

First Epistle to the Corinthians The First Epistle to the Corinthians ( grc, Α΄ ᾽Επιστολὴ πρὸς Κορινθίους) is one of the Pauline epistles, part of the New Testament of the Christian Bible. The epistle is attributed to Paul the Apostle and a co-au ...

(). It is not clear whether this identification is tenable. According to Protestant theologian Heinrich Meyer, "

Theodoret Theodoret of Cyrus or Cyrrhus ( grc-gre, Θεοδώρητος Κύρρου; AD 393 – 458/466) was an influential theologian of the School of Antioch, biblical commentator, and Christian bishop of Cyrrhus (423–457). He played a pi ...

and most commentators, including Flatt, Billroth, Ewald, Maier ndHofmann, identify Sosthenes with the person so named in Acts 18:17, but this is denied by

Michaelis Michaelis or Michelis is a surname. Notable people and characters with the surname include: * Adolf Michaelis, German classical scholar * Anthony R. Michaelis, German science writer * Edward Michelis, German theologian * Georg Michaelis, German ...

, Pott, Rückert, and de Wette". The name was a common one. It has also been suggested that Sosthenes is a later name of

Crispus Flavius Julius Crispus (; 300 – 326) was the eldest son of the Roman emperor Constantine I, as well as his junior colleague ( ''caesar'') from March 317 until his execution by his father in 326. The grandson of the ''augustus'' Constantius ...

, who is mentioned in Acts 18:8 and 1 Corinthians 1:14, but

Strong Strong may refer to: Education * The Strong, an educational institution in Rochester, New York, United States * Strong Hall (Lawrence, Kansas), an administrative hall of the University of Kansas * Strong School, New Haven, Connecticut, United Sta ...

and

McClintock McClintock is a surname of Scottish and Irish Gaelic origin deriving from an anglicization of a Scottish Gaelic, Gaelic name variously recorded as M'Ilandick, M'Illandag, M'Illandick, M'Lentick, McGellentak, Macilluntud, McClintoun, and Mac Il ...

say that "is arbitrary and unsupported.""Sosthenes", ''The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature
James Strong and John McClintock; Harper and Brothers; NY; 1880 He is traditionally listed among the

Seventy Disciples The seventy disciples or seventy-two disciples, known in the Eastern Christian traditions as the seventy apostles or seventy-two apostles, were early emissaries of Jesus mentioned in the Gospel of Luke. The correct Greek terminology is evdomikon ...

of .Orthodox Church in America
Apostle Sosthenes of the Seventy
accessed 13 March 2017

References

Seventy disciples Year of birth missing Year of death missing People in Acts of the Apostles Saints of Roman Corinth Christian saints from the New Testament First Epistle to the Corinthians {{Bible-stub