Note 1 at Mt 9:18: From Mr 5:22 and Lu 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 (Ac 13:14-15); and (3) making sure the proper procedures and laws were observed at assemblies (Lu 13:14). Some synagogues may have had more than one ruler (Mr 5:22 and Ac 13:15), one of whom was chief (Ac 18:8).

Several rulers (not necessarily rulers of the synagogue) believed on Jesus, including Nicodemus (Joh 3:1 and 7:50-51 with 19:39), Jairus (Mt 9:18, Mr 5:22-23, and Lu 8:41), and Crispus (Ac 18:8), but not all rulers who believed on Jesus confessed Him (Joh 12:42-43) for fear of losing their positions in the synagogue.

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