Luke 4:20
New International Version
Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him.

New Living Translation
He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently.

English Standard Version
And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.

Berean Standard Bible
Then He rolled up the scroll, returned it to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him,

Berean Literal Bible
And having rolled up the scroll, having delivered it to the attendant, He sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed upon Him.

King James Bible
And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

New King James Version
Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him.

New American Standard Bible
And He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all the people in the synagogue were intently directed at Him.

NASB 1995
And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him.

NASB 1977
And He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed upon Him.

Legacy Standard Bible
And He closed the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him.

Amplified Bible
Then He rolled up the scroll [having stopped in the middle of the verse], gave it back to the attendant and sat down [to teach]; and the eyes of all those in the synagogue were [attentively] fixed on Him.

Christian Standard Bible
He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. And the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. And the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him.

American Standard Version
And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down: and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him.

Contemporary English Version
Jesus closed the book, then handed it back to the man in charge and sat down. Everyone in the synagogue looked straight at Jesus.

English Revised Version
And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down: and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Jesus closed the book, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. Everyone in the synagogue watched him closely.

Good News Translation
Jesus rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. All the people in the synagogue had their eyes fixed on him,

International Standard Version
Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. While the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on him,

Majority Standard Bible
Then He rolled up the scroll, returned it to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him,

NET Bible
Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on him.

New Heart English Bible
He closed the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

Weymouth New Testament
And rolling up the book, He returned it to the attendant, and sat down--to speak. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him.

World English Bible
He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And having folded the scroll, having given [it] back to the officer, He sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue were gazing on Him.

Berean Literal Bible
And having rolled up the scroll, having delivered it to the attendant, He sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed upon Him.

Young's Literal Translation
And having folded the roll, having given it back to the officer, he sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue were gazing on him.

Smith's Literal Translation
And having folded the book and given back to the servant, he sat down. And the eyes of all in the assembly were looking attentively upon him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when he had folded the book, he restored it to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And when he had rolled up the book, he returned it to the minister, and he sat down. And the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on him.

New American Bible
Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.

New Revised Standard Version
And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he rolled up the scroll and gave it to the attendant, and went and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on him.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And he rolled up the scroll and he gave it to the minister and he went and sat down, but all who were in the synagogue fixed their eyes upon him.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And he rolled up the volume, and save it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all that were in the synagogue were earnestly fixed upon him.

Godbey New Testament
And having closed the book, and giving it back to the officer, He sat down: and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on Him.

Haweis New Testament
And rolling up the volume, he gave it to the attendant officer, and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were attentively fixed on him.

Mace New Testament
then he closed the book, and returning it to the minister, he sat down: and as the eyes of the whole synagogue were fix'd with attention upon him,

Weymouth New Testament
And rolling up the book, He returned it to the attendant, and sat down--to speak. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him.

Worrell New Testament
And, having closed the book. He gave it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on Him.

Worsley New Testament
And He folded up the book, and gave it again to the minister, and sat down: and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed upon Him.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Rejection at Nazareth
19to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20Then He rolled up the scroll, returned it to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him, 21and He began by saying, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”…

Cross References
Isaiah 61:1-2
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners, / to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of our God’s vengeance, to comfort all who mourn,

Matthew 13:54-58
Coming to His hometown, He taught the people in their synagogue, and they were astonished. “Where did this man get such wisdom and miraculous powers?” they asked. / “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother’s name Mary, and aren’t His brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? / Aren’t all His sisters with us as well? Where then did this man get all these things?” ...

Mark 6:1-6
Jesus went on from there and came to His hometown, accompanied by His disciples. / When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were astonished. “Where did this man get these ideas?” they asked. “What is this wisdom He has been given? And how can He perform such miracles? / Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? Aren’t His sisters here with us as well?” And they took offense at Him. ...

John 7:14-15
About halfway through the feast, Jesus went up to the temple courts and began to teach. / The Jews were amazed and asked, “How did this man attain such learning without having studied?”

Acts 13:14-16
And from Perga, they traveled inland to Pisidian Antioch, where they entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and sat down. / After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue leaders sent word to them: “Brothers, if you have a word of encouragement for the people, please speak.” / Paul stood up, motioned with his hand, and began to speak: “Men of Israel and you Gentiles who fear God, listen to me!

Nehemiah 8:5-6
Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people, since he was standing above them all, and as he opened it, all the people stood up. / Then Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and with their hands uplifted, all the people said, “Amen, Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

Matthew 11:4-6
Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: / The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. / Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.”

John 4:21-24
“Believe Me, woman,” Jesus replied, “a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. / You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. / But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him. ...

Acts 17:2-3
As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, / explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,” he declared.

2 Corinthians 3:14-16
But their minds were closed. For to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It has not been lifted, because only in Christ can it be removed. / And even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. / But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

Matthew 4:23
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.

Mark 1:21-22
Then Jesus and His companions went to Capernaum, and right away Jesus entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and began to teach. / The people were astonished at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.

John 18:20
“I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus answered. “I always taught in the synagogues and at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.

Acts 9:20
Saul promptly began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, declaring, “He is the Son of God.”

1 Kings 8:14-15
And as the whole assembly of Israel stood there, the king turned around and blessed them all / and said: “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who has fulfilled with His own hand what He spoke with His mouth to my father David, saying,


Treasury of Scripture

And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

and he.

Luke 4:17
And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

Matthew 20:26-28
But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; …

and sat.

Luke 5:3
And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.

Matthew 5:1,2
And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: …

Matthew 13:1,2
The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side…

And the.

Luke 19:48
And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.

Acts 3:12
And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

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Luke 4
1. The fasting and temptation of Jesus.
14. He begins to preach.
16. The people of Nazareth marvel at words, but seek to kill him.
33. He cures one possessed of a demon,
38. Peter's mother-in-law,
40. and various other sick persons.
41. The demons acknowledge Jesus, and are reproved for it.
42. He preaches through the cities of Galilee.














Then He rolled up the scroll
In the synagogue, the reading of Scripture was a central part of worship. Jesus, having read from the scroll of Isaiah, demonstrates His respect for the Jewish tradition by rolling it up carefully. This act signifies the completion of the reading and the transition to teaching. The scroll, likely made of parchment or papyrus, was a precious and sacred object, emphasizing the importance of the Scriptures in Jewish life. The passage He read (Isaiah 61:1-2) is a messianic prophecy, highlighting His role as the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets.

returned it to the attendant
The attendant, or "chazzan," was responsible for the care of the synagogue's scrolls. By returning the scroll, Jesus shows adherence to the synagogue's customs and respect for the established order. This act also signifies the end of the public reading and the beginning of His teaching, which was customary for a rabbi or teacher after reading the Scriptures. The role of the attendant underscores the organized structure of synagogue worship and the reverence for the Word of God.

and sat down
In Jewish tradition, teachers would sit to teach, a position of authority and respect. By sitting down, Jesus assumes the role of a rabbi, ready to expound on the Scriptures. This posture indicates that He is about to deliver an important message, inviting the congregation to listen attentively. Sitting to teach was a common practice, as seen in other parts of the Gospels, where Jesus often sits to deliver His teachings, such as the Sermon on the Mount.

The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him
The congregation's focus on Jesus highlights the anticipation and expectation of His teaching. Having read a significant messianic prophecy, the people are eager to hear His interpretation and application. This moment captures the tension and curiosity surrounding Jesus' ministry, as He often spoke with authority and insight that challenged traditional understandings. The phrase also foreshadows the impact of His words and actions, which would captivate and sometimes divide His audience throughout His ministry.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus
The central figure in this passage, Jesus has just read from the scroll of Isaiah in the synagogue, declaring the fulfillment of the prophecy.

2. The Synagogue
A place of Jewish worship and teaching, where Jesus often taught. This particular event takes place in the synagogue of Nazareth, His hometown.

3. The Attendant
The person responsible for handling the scrolls in the synagogue. Jesus returns the scroll to this individual after reading.

4. The Scroll of Isaiah
The sacred text from which Jesus reads, specifically Isaiah 61:1-2, which speaks of the Messiah's mission.

5. The Congregation
The people present in the synagogue, whose attention is captivated by Jesus' actions and words.
Teaching Points
The Authority of Jesus
Jesus' actions in the synagogue demonstrate His authority and fulfillment of prophecy. As believers, we are called to recognize and submit to His authority in our lives.

The Fulfillment of Prophecy
Jesus' reading from Isaiah highlights the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. This reminds us of the reliability of Scripture and God's faithfulness to His promises.

The Power of God's Word
The reaction of the congregation shows the impact of God's Word. We should approach Scripture with reverence and expectation, allowing it to transform us.

The Importance of Focus
The congregation's eyes were fixed on Jesus. In our daily lives, we should strive to keep our focus on Christ, especially in times of worship and study.

Responding to Jesus' Message
The passage challenges us to consider our response to Jesus' message. Are we receptive and willing to act on His teachings?(20) And he closed the book.--Better, rolled up, as describing the actual manner of closing. The description is characteristic as indicating (1) that it probably came in the first instance from an eye-witness-and (2) the calmness and deliberation with which our Lord acted.

And sat down.--This conveys to us the idea of falling back to a place of comparative obscurity among the congregation. To the Jew it implied just the opposite. The chair near the place from which the lesson was read was the pulpit of the Rabbi, and to sit down in that chair (as in Matthew 5:1; Matthew 23:2) was an assumption by our Lord, apparently for the first time in that synagogue, of the preacher's function. This led to the eager, fixed gaze of wonder which the next clause speaks of.

Fastened on him.--The Greek word so rendered is noticeable as being used twelve times by St. Luke, (chiefly in the Acts), and twice by St. Paul (2Corinthians 3:7; 2Corinthians 3:13), and by no other writer of the New Testament. It had been used by Aristotle in his scientific writings, and was probably a half-technical word which St. Luke's studies as a physician had brought into his vocabulary, and which St. Paul learnt, as it were, from him.

Verse 20. - And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. This was the usual position adopted by a Jewish preacher. The chair of the preacher was placed near the spot where the lesson was read. These synagogues were built with the end pointed towards Jerusalem, in which direction the Jew ever loved to turn as he prayed (Daniel 6:10). The men sat on one side of the building, the women on the other. There was always at the end of the chamber an ark of wood, a memory of the sacred ark of the covenant, which once, with its golden mercy-seat, hallowed now and again with the presence of the visible glory, was the chief treasure of the temple ca Mount Zion. In the "ark" were kept the Law (the five books of Moses) and the rolls of the prophets.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Then
Καὶ (Kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

He rolled up
πτύξας (ptyxas)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4428: To fold, roll up (as a scroll). Probably akin to petannumi; to fold, i.e. Furl a scroll.

the
τὸ (to)
Article - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

scroll,
βιβλίον (biblion)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 975: A papyrus roll. A diminutive of biblos; a roll.

returned [it]
ἀποδοὺς (apodous)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 591: From apo and didomi; to give away, i.e. Up, over, back, etc.

to the
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

attendant,
ὑπηρέτῃ (hypēretē)
Noun - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5257: From hupo and a derivative of eresso; an under-oarsman, i.e. subordinate.

[and] sat down.
ἐκάθισεν (ekathisen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2523: Another form for kathezomai; to seat down, i.e. Set; intransitively, to sit; figuratively, to settle.

The
οἱ (hoi)
Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

eyes
ὀφθαλμοὶ (ophthalmoi)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3788: The eye; fig: the mind's eye. From optanomai; the eye; by implication, vision; figuratively, envy.

of everyone
πάντων (pantōn)
Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

the
τῇ (tē)
Article - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

synagogue
συναγωγῇ (synagōgē)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4864: From sunago; an assemblage of persons; specially, a Jewish 'synagogue'; by analogy, a Christian church.

were
ἦσαν (ēsan)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

fixed on
ἀτενίζοντες (atenizontes)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 816: To direct my gaze, look steadily. From a compound of a and teino; to gaze intently.

Him,
αὐτῷ (autō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.


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NT Gospels: Luke 4:20 He closed the book gave it back (Luke Lu Lk)
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