Matthew 4:23

All Galilee] A preaching expedition of so comprehensive a character must have lasted several months.

In their synagogues] Synagogues had their origin during the captivity, and rapidly became a general institution after the return. In the time of Christ there was a synagogue not only in every town, but in every village large enough to afford a congregation of ten adult men. The synagogue was primarily a place of worship, but it was also a centre of government, its members forming a local self-governing body. The governing body of a synagogue were called 'elders.' At their head was a 'ruler of the synagogue,' who maintained order during public worship (Luke 13:14), and decided who was to conduct the service (Acts 13:15). The ruler was not a scribe, but ranked immediately after the scribes. Each synagogue had an attendant (Hazzan) (Luke 4:20). He was a scribe, but ranked lowest in the scribal body. He had charge of the building, gave the rolls to the readers, called upon the priests to pronounce the benediction at the proper time, and also on week-days acted as schoolmaster. It was he who carried out the judicial sentences of the elders. Many synagogues had an interpreter (methurgeman), who, after the Scripture had been read in Hebrew, gave the Targum, i.e. translated it into Aramaic, which was the vulgar tongue.

The elders of the synagogue were the rulers of the local community both in civil and religious matters. They had power to excommunicate (Luke 6:22), and to scourge (Matthew 10:17) with forty stripes save one (Deuteronomy 25:3; 2 Corinthians 11:24). Unlike the Temple-worship the worship of the synagogue was under the control of the laity. A priest as such had no privilege but to give the blessing. The four chief parts of synagogue worship were, (1) the reading of the Law, (2) of the prophets, (3) the sermon, (4) the prayers. The prayers and lessons were read and the sermon delivered by members of the congregation selected by the ruler. This will explain how it was that Jesus, and afterwards St. Paul, were able to use the synagogues as centres for diffusing Christian truth: cp. Luke 4:16; Acts 13:15. On week-days the synagogues were used as schools for children.