Luke 4:20 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus rolls up the scroll, returns it to the attendant, and sits down to teach while every eye in the synagogue fixes on him.
What Does Luke 4:20 Mean?
Each motion is deliberate: the scroll closed, handed back to the minister, meaning the synagogue attendant, and then the reader seated, for sitting was the recognized posture of a teacher about to expound. Luke slows the narrative until the room itself seems to hold its breath.
The eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. For one suspended moment, Nazareth is looking exactly where every generation since has needed to look. The question hanging in that silence is the question hanging over the whole Gospel: who is this? Expectation fills the room before a single word of the sermon is spoken, and what he says next will either gather that gaze into faith or turn it to fury.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 4:20
What does Luke 4:20 mean?
Jesus rolls up the scroll, returns it to the attendant, and sits down to teach while every eye in the synagogue fixes on him.