Mark 1:22

1:22 The people there ¹  were amazed by his teaching, because he taught them like one who had authority, ²  not like the experts in the law. ³ 

Matthew 7:28

7:28 When ⁴  Jesus finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed by his teaching,

Luke 4:22

4:22 All ⁵  were speaking well of him, and were amazed at the gracious words coming out of his mouth. They ⁶  said, “Isn’t this ⁷  Joseph’s son?”

John 7:46

7:46 The officers replied, “No one ever spoke like this man!”

¹ tn Grk “They.”

² sn Jesus’ teaching impressed the hearers with the directness of its claim; he taught with authority. A study of Jewish rabbinic interpretation shows that it was typical to cite a list of authorities to make one’s point. Apparently Jesus addressed the issues in terms of his own understanding.

³ tn Or “the scribes.” The traditional rendering of γραμματεύς (grammateu") as “scribe” does not communicate much to the modern English reader, for whom the term might mean “professional copyist,” if it means anything at all. The people referred to here were recognized experts in the law of Moses and in traditional laws and regulations. Thus “expert in the law” comes closer to the meaning for the modern reader.

⁴ tn Grk “And it happened when.” The introductory phrase καὶ ἐγένετο (kai egeneto, “it happened that”) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.

⁵ tn Grk “And all.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

⁶ tn Grk “And they.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

⁷ sn The form of the question assumes a positive reply. It really amounts to an objection, as Jesus’ response in the next verses shows. Jesus spoke smoothly and impressively. He made a wonderful declaration, but could a local carpenter’s son make such an offer? That was their real question.