Luke 4:15-16

4:15 He ¹  began to teach ²  in their synagogues ³  and was praised ⁴  by all.

Rejection at Nazareth

4:16 Now ⁵  Jesus ⁶  came to Nazareth, ⁷  where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue ⁸  on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. ⁹  He ¹⁰  stood up to read, ¹¹ 

Luke 4:44

4:44 So ¹²  he continued to preach in the synagogues of Judea. ¹³ 

[4:15]  ¹ tn Grk “And he.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[4:15]  ² tn The imperfect verb has been translated ingressively.

[4:15]  ³ sn The next incident in Luke 4:16-30 is probably to be seen as an example of this ministry of teaching in their synagogues in Galilee. Synagogues were places for Jewish prayer and worship, with recognized leadership (cf. Luke 8:41). Though the origin of the synagogue is not entirely clear, it seems to have arisen in the postexilic community during the intertestamental period. A town could establish a synagogue if there were at least ten men. In normative Judaism of the NT period, the OT scripture was read and discussed in the synagogue by the men who were present (see the Mishnah, m. Megillah 3-4; m. Berakhot 2).

[4:15]  ⁴ tn Grk “being glorified.” The participle δοξαζόμενος (doxazomeno") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. This is the only place Luke uses the verb δοξάζω (doxazw) of Jesus.

[4:16]  ⁵ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.

[4:16]  ⁶ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[4:16]  ⁷ sn Nazareth was Jesus’ hometown (which is why he is known as Jesus of Nazareth) about 20 miles (30 km) southwest from Capernaum.

[4:16]  ⁸ sn See the note on synagogues in 4:15.

[4:16]  ⁹ tn Grk “according to his custom.”

[4:16]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “And he.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[4:16]  ¹¹ sn In normative Judaism of the period, the OT scripture was read and discussed in the synagogue by the men who were present. See the Mishnah, m. Megillah 3-4; m. Berakhot 2. First came the law, then the prophets, then someone was asked to speak on the texts. Normally one stood up to read out of respect for the scriptures, and then sat down (v. 20) to expound them.

[4:44]  ¹² tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the summarization.

[4:44]  ¹³ tc Most mss (A D Θ Ψ Ë¹³ 33 Ï latt) have “of Galilee”; others, “of the Jews” (W). “Judea” (read by Ì⁷⁵ א B Q 579 892 pc sa, and [with minor variation] C L ˹ 1241) is probably the original reading since it is both the harder reading and supported by the best witnesses. “Galilee” is an assimilation to Mark 1:39 and Matt 4:23.