Luke 4:17
And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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It's easy to see Jesus simply picking up a scroll, but the detail of "unrolling" the scroll is significant. Unlike the Law, which was often kept open to the day's reading, prophetic books were on single rollers, requiring the reader to physically unroll them to find the specific passage. This implies Jesus didn't just casually stumble upon the verse in Isaiah; he actively sought it out and found the exact place meant to be read.
Jesus has just finished reading from the Law, as was customary in the synagogue, and now a scroll of Isaiah is handed to him. He unrolls it, and it's understood that he will read the prophetic lesson for the day, a passage that will powerfully declare his mission.
Ever wondered about the logistics of ancient worship? Jesus' actions in the synagogue reveal a structured, intentional practice.
In Jesus' day, synagogue services involved two readings: one from the Law (the first five books of Moses) and one from the Prophets.
When Jesus was handed the scroll of Isaiah, it wasn't just a random handing over of a book. It was part of a prescribed order of worship. Whether Jesus was handed the scroll to read the specific passage appointed for that day, or if he was given the scroll and chose the passage from Isaiah, the act was deeply rooted in tradition.
Was it chance or divine appointment that Jesus found that specific passage in Isaiah? Let's explore.
The word Luke uses for 'found' can imply either an accidental discovery or a deliberate finding. While some traditions suggest the passage read was the designated lesson for that day (like the Haftarah, or second reading), others propose Jesus specifically chose this section of Isaiah.
Regardless of whether it was pre-selected or Jesus' own choice, the 'finding' is presented as a pivotal moment. It suggests divine guidance, ensuring Jesus would read the very words that declared His mission.
The way ancient texts were physically prepared tells us a lot about how they were used and respected.
The Bible wasn't always in the bound book format we're used to. In Jesus' time, sacred texts, including the prophecies of Isaiah, were written on scrolls made of parchment or vellum.
The synagogue practice of reading from the Prophets on the Sabbath, combined with the common use of the Septuagint translation, provides the specific context for Jesus selecting and reading from Isaiah 61. This wasn't a random event, but a deliberate act within established religious custom, highlighting His self-understanding as the fulfillment of prophecy.
c. 2nd century BC
Septuagint Translation Completed
The Greek translation of the Old Testament, known as the Septuagint, was completed. This translation would become widely used by Greek-speaking Jews and early Christians, and New Testament writers frequently quoted from it, sometimes with slight variations from the original Hebrew.
1st century BC - 1st century AD
Synagogue Reading Practices Established
The practice of reading from both the Law (Torah) and the Prophets (Haphtarah) on the Sabbath became standard in Jewish synagogues. The specific order of readings often related to the liturgical calendar.
c. AD 27-30— this verse
Jesus' Public Ministry Begins
Following His baptism and temptation, Jesus began His public ministry in Galilee. This period includes His visit to the synagogue in Nazareth.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Galilean Ministry and Rejection at Nazareth
This is the direct passage Jesus reads from, forming the core of His declaration and ministry's purpose.
Luke 4:18-19These verses quote Isaiah 61:1-2, explicitly stating the mission Jesus is announcing in the synagogue based on the scroll He opened.
Acts 10:38This passage in Acts echoes the anointing and sending of Jesus by God with the Holy Spirit to do good and heal, directly reflecting the purpose Jesus announced from Isaiah.
John 1:11-14This passage speaks of Jesus coming to His own, who did not receive Him, paralleling the rejection Jesus would soon face in His hometown, as described in the subsequent verses of Luke 4.
Psalm 40:6-8This psalm expresses a willing obedience to do God's will and to proclaim His word, which is the heart of the mission Jesus inaugurates from the scroll of Isaiah.
cambridgeLuke 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,"
17 . there was delivered unto him ] Literally, “there was further handed to Him.” The expression means that after He, or another, had read the Parashah , or First Lesson, which was always from the Pentateuch, the clerk handed to him the Roll of Isaiah, which contained the Haphtarah , or Second Lesson. when he had opened the book ] If anaptuxas i…
pulpitLuke 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,"
Verse 17. - And there was delivered unto him the Book of the Prophet Esaias. In the sabbath service there were two lessons read. The first was always taken from the Pentateuch (the Law). The five books of Moses were written on parchment, (usually) between two rollers, and the day's lesson was left unrolled for the reader's convenience. The Proph…
It's easy to see Jesus simply picking up a scroll, but the detail of "unrolling" the scroll is significant. Unlike the Law, which was often kept open to the day's reading, prophetic books were on single rollers, requiring the reader to physically unroll them to find the specific passage. This implies Jesus didn't just casually stumble upon the verse in Isaiah; he actively sought it out and found the exact place meant to be read.
Jesus has just finished reading from the Law, as was customary in the synagogue, and now a scroll of Isaiah is handed to him. He unrolls it, and it's understood that he will read the prophetic lesson for the day, a passage that will powerfully declare his mission.
Jesus has just finished reading from the Law, as was customary in the synagogue, and now a scroll of Isaiah is handed to him. He unrolls it, and it's understood that he will read the prophetic lesson for the day, a passage that will powerfully declare his mission.
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This physical act of 'unrolling' was more than just accessing information; it was interacting with a sacred text in a deliberate and tactile way, preparing for a profound proclamation.
The rejection of Jesus in His hometown synagogue in Nazareth, as described in Luke 4, was a pivotal moment early in His ministry. This event set a pattern for how some would react to His message.
"And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written," — It's easy to see Jesus simply picking up a scroll, but the detail of "unrolling" the scroll is significant. Unlike the Law, which was often kept open to the day's reading, prophetic books were on sin…
