in the synagogues
The synagogue was the center of Jewish religious life and community gatherings. It served as a place for prayer, reading of the Scriptures, and teaching. Jesus' choice to preach in synagogues shows His initial focus on the Jewish people, fulfilling His role as the Messiah promised to Israel. Synagogues provided a ready audience familiar with the Scriptures, allowing Jesus to connect His teachings to the Old Testament prophecies. This setting also reflects the pattern of the early church, where the apostles often began their ministry in synagogues before reaching out to the Gentiles.

of Judea
Judea was a significant region in the southern part of ancient Israel, encompassing Jerusalem, the religious and cultural heart of Judaism. Preaching in Judea indicates Jesus' strategic approach to His ministry, starting in areas with strong Jewish identity and influence. This region was also the site of many prophetic fulfillments, as the Messiah was expected to arise from the lineage of David, whose city was Bethlehem in Judea. Jesus' presence in Judea underscores His fulfillment of messianic prophecies and His role as the Savior for both Jews and Gentiles.

• This small connective reminds us to read the verse in light of what has just happened. In Luke 4:42-43 Jesus declares, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well, because that is why I was sent.” The word “And” links His stated mission to His immediate action, showing an unbroken flow of obedience.

• Cross references keep the momentum clear: Mark 1:38-39 records the same determination, and Luke 4:14-15 places Him already teaching “in their synagogues, and everyone praised Him.”

• Jesus didn’t preach once and then move on to something else; He kept at it. The verb points to steady, intentional perseverance.

• Luke 8:1 echoes this pattern: “Jesus traveled from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God.”

• His persistence fulfills the prophetic picture of the Servant who would “not grow weary” (Isaiah 42:4), emphasizing faithful endurance.

• Preaching—publicly announcing God’s truth—lay at the center of His earthly ministry. He proclaimed, not merely discussed.

• Matthew 4:23 shows Him “teaching… proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing” in an integrated ministry of word and deed.

• Romans 10:14-15 underlines the necessity of preaching for people to believe, reminding us why Jesus prioritized proclamation.

• Synagogues were the gathering places for Scripture reading and instruction, making them ideal venues for reaching Israel with the promised message.

• Luke 4:16-17 illustrates His custom of standing up to read Scripture in these settings, and Luke 6:6 shows Him returning again and again.

• This strategy honored God’s covenant order—“to the Jew first” (Romans 1:16)—while providing a built-in audience familiar with the Scriptures He fulfilled.

• notes His ministry took place throughout Judea—the broader southern region that included Jerusalem—signifying a widening geographic sweep beyond the earlier focus on Galilee.

• Luke 5:17 mentions teachers of the law “from every village of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem” gathering to hear Him, illustrating how His reach increasingly covered the nation.

• Acts 1:8 shows the same outward movement: from Jerusalem to Judea, then Samaria, then the ends of the earth, mirroring Jesus’ own travel pattern.

Luke 4:44 captures Jesus actively fulfilling His God-given mission. Linked to His earlier declaration, He perseveres in publicly announcing the kingdom, chooses strategic synagogue settings, and broadens His ministry across Judea. The verse is a snapshot of relentless, purposeful proclamation that models unwavering obedience and sets the stage for the gospel’s continued spread.

Parallel Commentaries ...