Luke 4:44 kjv
And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.
Luke 4:44 nkjv
And He was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.
Luke 4:44 niv
And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
Luke 4:44 esv
And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
Luke 4:44 nlt
So he continued to travel around, preaching in synagogues throughout Judea.
Luke 4 44 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mt 4:12-16 | Now when Jesus... went away into Galilee... that it might be fulfilled... from Isaiah the prophet... | Prophetic fulfillment of ministry in Galilee. |
| Mt 4:17 | From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." | The foundational message of Jesus' preaching. |
| Mt 4:23 | And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom... | Confirms widespread teaching in Galilean synagogues. |
| Mt 9:35 | Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues... proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom... | Further evidence of pervasive Galilean ministry. |
| Mk 1:14-15 | ...Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled..." | The core message and onset of His public ministry. |
| Mk 1:21 | Then they went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. | Specific example of Jesus teaching in a synagogue. |
| Mk 1:39 | And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons. | Highlights both preaching and power across Galilee. |
| Lk 4:14-15 | Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. | Jesus' initial success and acclaim in Galilee. |
| Lk 4:16 | So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day... | Establishes Jesus' customary practice of synagogue attendance and teaching. |
| Lk 4:18-19 | The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor... | Jesus' divinely appointed mission to proclaim good news. |
| Lk 4:43 | But He said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent." | Jesus' immediate declaration of broad missionary intent. |
| Lk 8:1 | Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. | Continual, expansive proclamation of the Kingdom. |
| Lk 13:22 | And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. | Jesus' consistent method of teaching during His travels. |
| Acts 8:4 | Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. | Echoes the pattern of widespread gospel proclamation by early believers. |
| Acts 9:20 | Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. | Paul's similar apostolic approach, beginning in synagogues. |
| Acts 17:1-2 | ...they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them... | Apostolic custom of evangelizing in Jewish synagogues. |
| Rom 10:14 | How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? | The essential role of preaching for faith. |
| 1 Cor 1:21 | For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. | God's chosen means of salvation: the proclaimed word. |
| Is 55:11 | So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please... | The efficacy and power of God's spoken word. |
| Is 61:1 | The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor... | Prophetic foretelling of the Messiah's preaching mission. |
| Jon 3:4 | And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" | Old Testament example of God commissioning public proclamation. |
| Jer 1:9-10 | Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me: "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have this day set you over the nations..." | Divine empowering of a prophet to declare God's message broadly. |
| Ps 68:11 | The Lord gave the word; Great was the company of those who proclaimed it. | Acknowledging God as the source and giver of the message to be declared. |
| Hos 6:6 | For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. | Undercurrent theme supporting emphasis on teaching and knowledge over ritual alone in the synagogue. |
Luke 4 verses
Luke 4 44 Meaning
Luke 4:44 conveys that Jesus consistently and actively proclaimed the message of God's Kingdom in the various Jewish houses of worship throughout the geographical region of Galilee.
Luke 4 44 Context
Luke chapter 4 recounts significant initial events in Jesus' public ministry. It follows His temptation in the wilderness and return to Galilee in the power of the Spirit (v. 14). The immediate preceding narrative (Luke 4:16-30) details Jesus' profound, yet ultimately rejected, declaration of His messianic mission in His hometown synagogue of Nazareth. Despite this harsh rejection, Jesus' ministry moved forward purposefully. He journeyed to Capernaum (v. 31), where His teaching authority and miraculous healings were clearly demonstrated (v. 32-41). When the people in Capernaum sought to detain Him, Jesus explicitly stated His divine imperative: "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent" (Lk 4:43). Luke 4:44 then functions as a summary statement, affirming that Jesus indeed carried out this expressed necessity. Historically, Galilee was a populous, culturally diverse region in northern Palestine, sometimes viewed with disdain by Judeans. Its synagogues served as the central hub for Jewish life, including worship, religious instruction, and community assembly, making them the primary venues for Jesus to disseminate His message directly to the people.
Luke 4 44 Word analysis
- And (Καί - Kai): This conjunction serves to connect the verse with the preceding account, signaling a continuation and summarization of Jesus' persistent ministry activities after His departure from Capernaum.
- He (Αὐτός - Autos): Unambiguously refers to Jesus Christ. This highlights that Jesus Himself was the one actively performing this essential function of public proclamation, demonstrating His personal commitment and direct engagement with His divine mission.
- was preaching (ἦν κηρύσσων - ēn kēryssōn):
- `ἦν (ēn)` is the imperfect tense of "to be," conveying a continuous, ongoing, and habitual action in the past. It signifies that Jesus was continually or repeatedly engaged in this activity.
- `κηρύσσων (kēryssōn)` is the present active participle of `κηρύσσω (kērussō)`, meaning "to proclaim as a herald," "to announce publicly and authoritatively," or "to preach." This term emphasizes the official, authoritative, and public nature of Jesus' communication, distinctly more than merely "teaching." He functioned as God's official messenger.
- Together, the phrase denotes a sustained ministry of authoritative, public proclamation of His message.
- in the synagogues (ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς - en tais synagōgais):
- `ἐν (en)` translates to "in" or "among."
- `ταῖς (tais)` is the definite article "the," indicating specific, well-known institutions.
- `συναγωγαῖς (synagōgais)` is the plural of `συναγωγή (synagogē)`, meaning "gathering place" or "assembly." These were central Jewish community establishments, serving for prayer, reading and teaching of the Torah, and local affairs, distinct from the Temple in Jerusalem. Jesus deliberately utilized these established communal settings to reach Jewish populations regularly.
- of Galilee (τῆς Γαλιλαίας - tēs Galilaias):
- `τῆς (tēs)` is the definite article "the."
- `Γαλιλαίας (Galilaias)` refers to the geographical region of Galilee in northern Israel. This indicates the primary locus of this stage of Jesus' early ministry. Galilee was socio-culturally diverse, encompassing a mix of Jewish and Gentile populations, and often seen as a region distant from the religious orthodoxy of Jerusalem. Jesus' focus here highlights His inclusive mission, reaching out to "Galilee of the Gentiles" (Is 9:1), thereby beginning His outreach in areas prepared to receive His message without the entrenched opposition of the religious elite in Judea.
Words-Group analysis:
- He was preaching: This phrase underscores Jesus as the primary actor and the persistent nature of His central mission. It signifies that proclamation of the divine message was His continuous and foremost occupation, reflecting His role as the herald of God's Kingdom.
- in the synagogues of Galilee: This collective phrase illuminates Jesus' strategic and extensive outreach methodology. By focusing on the local synagogues across the entire Galilean region, Jesus systematically reached Jewish communities where they were accustomed to gather for spiritual and communal instruction, maximizing the dissemination of His message within an established framework.
Luke 4 44 Bonus section
- Strategic Accessibility: Jesus' regular presence in synagogues made His teachings directly accessible to the common people, democratizing religious instruction beyond exclusive priestly or scholarly circles.
- Kingdom Proclamation: Although not explicitly stated in Lk 4:44, the consistent "preaching" was intrinsically linked to the "gospel of the kingdom of God," as established in parallel passages and immediate context (e.g., Lk 4:43, Mk 1:14-15, Mt 4:23). This emphasizes that Jesus' primary message concerned God's active reign among humanity.
- Fulfillment of Prophecy: Jesus' extensive ministry in Galilee fulfills prophecies about light coming to this region often regarded as "Galilee of the Gentiles" (Is 9:1-2; Mt 4:15-16), indicating a divine design for His widespread and inclusive outreach from the very beginning.
- Foundation for Discipleship: This widespread proclamation across Galilee prepared the hearts of many, making it fertile ground for future calls to discipleship from those who heard and witnessed His authoritative ministry.
Luke 4 44 Commentary
Luke 4:44 provides a succinct summary of Jesus' initial public ministry following His rejection in Nazareth and subsequent move to Capernaum. The imperfect tense, "was preaching," signifies the consistent, pervasive, and intentional nature of Jesus' evangelistic efforts throughout Galilee. His choice to minister primarily in the region's synagogues was a strategic one; these were the focal points of Jewish communal life, allowing Him to systematically reach broad segments of the Jewish population with the message of God's imminent Kingdom. Despite the immediate challenges faced (such as the rejection in His hometown), Jesus remained steadfast in fulfilling His divine mandate (as declared in Lk 4:43) to proclaim the Good News across cities and villages. This phase of His ministry established His authority, demonstrated His compassion through healings (mentioned in broader context), and laid the vital groundwork for gathering His disciples and expanding His Kingdom.