Lukas 4:14-15

The Beginning of Jesus’ Ministry in Galilee

4:14 Then ¹  Jesus, in the power of the Spirit, ²  returned to Galilee, and news about him spread ³  throughout the surrounding countryside. ⁴  4:15 He ⁵  began to teach ⁶  in their synagogues ⁷  and was praised ⁸  by all.

Lukas 4:42-44

4:42 The next morning ⁹  Jesus ¹⁰  departed and went to a deserted place. Yet ¹¹  the crowds were seeking him, and they came to him and tried to keep him from leaving them. 4:43 But Jesus ¹²  said to them, “I must ¹³  proclaim the good news of the kingdom ¹⁴  of God to the other towns ¹⁵  too, for that is what I was sent ¹⁶  to do.” ¹⁷  4:44 So ¹⁸  he continued to preach in the synagogues of Judea. ¹⁹ 

[4:14]  ¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[4:14]  ² sn Once again Jesus is directed by the Spirit. Luke makes a point about Jesus’ association with the Spirit early in his ministry (3:22, 4:1 [2x]; 4:18).

[4:14]  ³ tn Grk “went out.”

[4:14]  ⁴ tn Grk “all the surrounding region.”

[4:15]  ⁵ tn Grk “And he.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[4:15]  ⁶ tn The imperfect verb has been translated ingressively.

[4:15]  ⁷ 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]  ⁸ 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.

[4:42]  ⁹ tn Grk “When it became day.”

[4:42]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[4:42]  ¹¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “yet” to indicate that the crowds still sought Jesus in spite of his withdrawal.

[4:43]  ¹² tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[4:43]  ¹³ tn Here δεῖ (dei, “it is necessary”) indicates divine commission (cf. Luke 2:49).

[4:43]  ¹⁴ sn The good news of the kingdom, the kingdom of the rule of God through the Messiah, is the topic of Jesus’ preaching.

[4:43]  ¹⁵ tn Or “cities.”

[4:43]  ¹⁶ sn Jesus was sent by God for this purpose. This is the language of divine commission.

[4:43]  ¹⁷ tn Grk “because for this purpose I was sent.”

[4:44]  ¹⁸ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the summarization.

[4:44]  ¹⁹ 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.