Crispus was an important figure in the early Christian church mentioned a few times in the New Testament. He was a leader of the synagogue in Corinth who converted to Christianity and became a follower of the apostle Paul.
The name Crispus appears four times in the Bible, providing us with some key details about who this man was and the role he played in the early church:
1. Crispus was the chief ruler of the synagogue in Corinth
The first mention of Crispus is in Acts 18 during Paul’s second missionary journey. Verse 8 tells us, “Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized.”
So Crispus held an important position as the leader or chief ruler of the Jewish synagogue in Corinth. The fact that he “believed in the Lord” indicates that he converted from Judaism to faith in Jesus Christ through Paul’s preaching of the gospel.
2. Crispus was baptized along with his whole household
The passage in Acts 18 reveals that not only did Crispus believe in Christ, but his entire household believed and was baptized as well. This likely included his family members and servants who were under his authority in the home. For the head of a household to convert to Christianity meant that everyone else in the home would follow.
Paul mentions baptizing Crispus again in 1 Corinthians 1:14, confirming he was one of the first converts Paul personally baptized in Corinth after preaching the good news of Christ.
3. Crispus hosted a church in his house
Based on Paul’s greetings in 1 Corinthians 16, we can deduce that the Corinthian church regularly gathered and worshipped in Crispus’s house. Paul writes, “The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. All the brothers send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss” (1 Cor 16:19-20).
It was common in the early church for believers to meet in homes. Since Crispus was a prominent leader and one of the first converts in Corinth, it makes sense that the church regularly met at his house.
4. Crispus was regarded as an important leader in the church
Paul’s greeting to Crispus in 1 Corinthians 1 indicates his status and influence: “Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge– even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you– so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name” (1 Corinthians 1:1-15).
Paul lists Crispus first among the few he personally baptized in Corinth, indicating Crispus was an important early convert and leader in the fledgling church. His influence is also evident by the fact some in the Corinthian church said “I follow Crispus” (v.12).
5. Crispus likely helped carry Paul’s letter to the Romans
In Romans 16, Paul sends greetings to believers in Rome and mentions “Crispus and Gaius, my fellow workers” (Rom 16:23). While we can’t say for certain, it is very possible this is the same Crispus from Corinth who eventually went to Rome, perhaps accompanying or carrying Paul’s letter to the Romans. The connection to Gaius links back to 1 Corinthians 1 where both men are mentioned as two of the few Paul baptized.
If this Crispus is the former synagogue ruler from Corinth, it shows his ongoing ministry partnership and service alongside Paul in spreading the gospel.
Key lessons from Crispus’s story
Though Crispus is only mentioned briefly in Scripture, some key themes emerge from his story that are worth highlighting:
- God can save anyone – Even a synagogue ruler opposed to Christianity came to saving faith in Jesus through the preaching of the gospel.
- Salvation often comes to whole households – Crispus’s entire family believed and was baptized illustrating household conversions.
- New believers used their homes – Crispus immediately opened his home as a gathering place for the new church plant.
- Leadership develops quickly – Crispus went from new convert to important church leader and partner in Paul’s ministry.
- Service matters more than status – Crispus is remembered for his service and partnership, not his position.
Crispus illustrates that a dynamic conversion can lead to a radical change of allegiance and priorities. This former synagogue ruler – respected in the Jewish community – laid all aside to follow Christ and open his life and home to furthering the gospel. He became a pillar in the early Corinthian church and his name lives on as an example to us today.
Though Crispus seemed an unlikely convert on the surface as part of the opposing Jewish leadership, God’s amazing grace can soften the hardest hearts. The conversion of this influential synagogue ruler shows that God uses all types of people in His kingdom work. Crispus went from opposing Christ to being one of the first believers baptized in Corinth and a key leader in the fledgling church. His story reminds us that no one is beyond the reach of God’s saving power.
Crispus provides a great example of opening up one’s home and resources to serve Christ’s church. All believers are called to steward our homes, finances, possessions and influence for God’s glory. Crispus literally welcomed the Corinthian church into his home. He gave of his household and resources to provide the new church with a place to meet, worship, and carry out the work of ministry. We too should look for ways to practically serve and resource the physical needs of our churches today.
Though Crispus quickly rose to be an influential leader in Corinth, Paul’s letter reminds us that human leaders are still flawed servants. The Corinthian believers had divided loyalties between prominent teachers like Paul, Apollos, and Cephas. Some even claimed to follow Crispus himself, as if he were the head over a faction in the church. But Paul refocused the church on unity under Christ alone. No human leader should be elevated to a place of ultimate loyalty.
As a former synagogue ruler, Crispus left a prominent position to follow Christ. This demonstrates that our identity and service in God’s kingdom does not depend on formal roles or titles. Crispus is remembered in Scripture for his partnership in the gospel, not his previous status. His service alongside Paul to strengthen and establish the early churches is what marked his legacy in Christ. This reminds us that God values faithful partnership in ministry over any worldly status or position.
Crispus provides an excellent model of humble service for Christ’s church. Though he was a prominent community leader who encountered the gospel through Paul’s preaching, he did not continue to rest on his status or authority. Instead, Crispus stepped down to serve alongside Paul and open his home to the new church plant in Corinth. He allowed his identity, gifts, and resources to be fully claimed for Christ’s service. The example of Crispus challenges all believers to follow his pattern of humble surrender to God’s work.
The story of Crispus reminds us that conversion is just the beginning. For this former synagogue leader, believing in Jesus as Messiah was only the first step. A transformed life of service followed his salvation as Crispus partnered with Paul in ministry and gave of himself to establish the Corinthian church. Likewise, God wants our conversion to lead to a lifetime of serving and building up the body of Christ. Salvation is the spark that starts an ongoing walk of discipleship and Spirit-led service.
Crispus shows that leadership development can happen quickly when God is at work. Within a short time, he went from being a new convert to a prominent church leader. Young, immature believers should not be kept from leadership indefinitely if they exhibit the faithfulness and spiritual gifts needed. Crispus was entrusted with leadership rapidly, perhaps because of his maturity and abilities. We too should look to develop new leaders quickly when they demonstrate God-given leadership gifts and a willing spirit like Crispus.
The conversion of Crispus as a prominent Jewish synagogue leader shows that the gospel breaks down social and ethnic barriers. God was establishing a new multi-ethnic community under Christ, bringing together Jew, Gentile, slave, free, rich, and poor. Crispus’ story reminds us that the church should be a diverse, inclusive community that welcomes all who come to God through faith in Jesus. There are no worldly barriers or distinctions in God’s kingdom.
Crispus is an outstanding example of the kind of leaders the early church depended on to spread the gospel. Many regular believers stepped up as hosts, teachers, partners, and servants to establish new churches throughout the Roman world. We see that pattern lived out in Crispus’s life. His willingness to fully leverage his influence, relationships, and resources for the kingdom is a model for all believers through the ages. Every Christian is called to follow Crispus’s example of Spirit-empowered service.
Though Crispus quickly fades from the biblical record, his legacy continues to inspire and instruct the church today. In just a few verses, we see modeled surrender to Christ, service-hearted leadership, generosity, and courageous identification with the gospel. Crispus’s radical example challenges us to live boldly for Christ, no matter the cost. His brief cameo in Scripture has messages that still resonate loudly for the global church centuries later.
