Mark 1:21 (NASB)
They went into¹ Capernaum²
[coming from the city of Nazareth];
and immediately³ on the Sabbath⁴
He entered the synagogue⁵
and began to teach⁶.
¹) To go into, to enter
²) The meaning of the name “Capernaum” is “village of comfort”. It was a flourishing city of Galilee situated on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee or Lake of Gennesaret, near the place where the Jordan flows into the lake.
³) Straightway, immediately, forthwith; The meaning is, that as He began preaching there on the very first sabbath after coming to settle at Capernaum, and that He continued it regularly thereafter.
⁴) The seventh day of the week which was a sacred festival on which the Israelites were required to abstain from all work.
⁵) Like we use the word church in different ways, the word συναγωγή sunagoge (pronounced as soon–ag–o–gay’) has in a similar way two meanings. The church is the assembly of believers, but when people say “I am going to church” people often mean the building.
The synagogue is the congregation, the assembly. In the New Testament, an assembling together of men, or an assembly of men.
▪︎ It is in the first place an assembly of Jews who are formally gathered together to offer prayers and listen to the reading and expositions of the scriptures. Assemblies of that sort were held every sabbath and feast day, afterwards also on the second and fifth days of every week. Later it was also used of an assembly of Christians who were formally gathered together for religious purposes.
▪︎ In the second place it are the buildings where those solemn Jewish assemblies are held. Synagogues seem to date back to the Babylonian exile. In the times of Jesus and the apostles every town, not only in Palestine, but also among the Gentiles if it contained a considerable number of Jewish inhabitants, had at least one synagogue, the larger towns had several, or even many. These were also used for trials and inflicting punishment.
⁶) To explain or expound a thing. The meaning is, that as He began this practice on the very first sabbath after coming to settle at Capernaum, so He continued it regularly thereafter.
From other translations:
And they entered into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He went into the synagogue and began to teach. [AMP]
And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. [ESV]
Then they entered Capernaum. When the Sabbath arrived, Jesus lost no time in getting to the meeting place. He spent the day there teaching. [MSB]
And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. [KJV]
They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. [NIV]
Jesus and his companions went to the town of Capernaum, and every Sabbath day he went into the synagogue and taught the people. [NLT]
Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. [NKJV]
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The Christ is touchingly faithful.
He does not waste time preaching the gospel to sinners. On the day of rest, Jesus goes to the synagogue, where the congregation meets. That is an example. Don’t miss out on the meetings!
Those who were in the synagogue on the Sabbath could hear Jesus.
Those who stayed at home missed His Word.
Staying home has never made anyone better.
God connects His blessing to the preaching of the word.
Here the great Teacher speaks words of eternal life.
Those who know Him will not want to miss one meeting.
Christ wakes you up by not neglecting His example.
After all, there is a blessing waiting for you.
Come, join us and act like us.
Can not you come?
He is bound to no place, but blesses everyone who waits for Him!
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