Albert Barnes Commentary Luke 4:17

"And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And he opened the book, and found the place where it was written," — Luke 4:17 (ASV)

There was delivered to him. By the minister of the synagogue, or the keeper of the sacred books. They were kept in an ark or chest, not far from the pulpit, and the minister gave them to whomever he chose, to read them publicly.

The book. The volume contained the prophecy of Isaiah. From this, it would seem that the books were kept separate, and not bound together into one volume as they are with us.

When he had opened the book. Literally, this means when he had unrolled the scroll. Books among the ancients were written on parchment or vellum—that is, animal skins—and were rolled together on two rollers, one at each end, so that while reading, the scroll material rolled from one roller to the other.

Different forms of books were indeed used, but this scroll format was the most common. When a scroll was used, the reader unrolled the manuscript to the place he wished to find, keeping before him only the portion he would read. When the scroll was finished with, it was carefully deposited in a case.

The place where it was written. Isaiah 61:1–2.