Jesus taught in the synagogue, because many gathered there, as seen in the Greek roots: sun (together) and engago (bringing), literally meaning bringing together
or gathering.
The synagogue’s main purpose was education, so that any well-equipped person, if given permission by the synagogue’s leaders, could speak there. Many gathered there on the Sabbath (Acts 13:15) to hear preaching, making it a good place for Jesus’ preaching (Luke 4:17–27), as it would be for Paul’s preaching later (Acts 13:16–47). Because anyone was allowed to attend synagogue, Jesus’ message could already reach some foreigners.
The word synagogue consists of a combination of the Greek words sun (together) and engago (bringing), and literally means bringing together
or gathering.
This Jewish institution probably originated during the time of the Babylonian captivity and constituted a vitally important part of Jewish society. The main purpose of the synagogue was education. If granted permission by one of the leaders of the synagogue, anyone who was equipped to do so could proceed to speak there publicly.1
Jesus conducts his work in the synagogues which were erected as buildings for the Jews to gather on the Sabbath for worship (Acts 13:15) and where the law was studied. In the synagogue the central activity was preaching as a form of teaching on the Scriptures. In this way Jesus could easily make use of the established practices of the synagogue for his ministry (see Luke 4:17–27). Paul would later follow in Jesus’ footsteps by doing the same (see Acts 13:16–47). Attending the teachings in the synagogue was open to everyone, and even though it was not that common for foreigners to attend synagogues in Palestine in general, there were no restrictions in terms of attendance. Furthermore, the region of Galilee itself had a large population of foreigners, and in the synagogues there, Jesus’ message reached many of them.2
23 Jésus parcourait toute la Galilée, enseignant dans les synagogues, prêchant la bonne nouvelle du royaume, et guérissant toute maladie et toute infirmité parmi le peuple.