Note 1 at Mt. 9:18: From Mark 5:22 and Luke 8:41, it is clear that the "certain ruler" mentioned here was a ruler of the synagogue. These rulers had several duties including (1) presiding at assemblies; (2) appointing or permitting members of the synagogue or qualified visitors to pray, read the scriptures, and exhort the people (Acts 13:14-15); and (3) making sure the proper procedures and laws were observed at assemblies (Lk. 13:14). Some synagogues may have had more than one ruler (Mk. 5:22; Acts 13:15), one of whom was chief (Acts 18:8).

Several rulers (not necessarily rulers of the synagogue) believed on Jesus, including Nicodemus (Jn. 3:1; 7:50-51 with Jn. 19:39), Jairus (Mt. 9:18; Mk. 5:23; Lk. 8:41), and Crispus (Acts 18:8), but not all rulers who believed on Jesus confessed Him (Jn. 12:42-43) for fear of their position in the synagogue.

Note 2 at Mt. 9:18: By comparing Matthew's account with those of Mark and Luke (Mk. 5:23; Lk. 8:42), it is clearly seen that Jairus' daughter was not yet dead. However, Jairus' daughter was "as good as dead" and Matthew simply reflects the finality Jairus must have felt in the way he records Jairus' statement.