Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 4:23

"And Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of disease and all manner of sickness among the people." — Matthew 4:23 (ASV)

All Galilee. See Matthew 2:22.

Synagogues were places of worship, or places where the people assembled together to worship God. Their origin is involved in much obscurity.

The sacrifices of the Jews were appointed to be held in one place, at Jerusalem. However, there was nothing to forbid the other services of religion from being performed in any place.

Accordingly, the praises of God were sung in the schools of the prophets, and those who chose were assembled by the seers on the Sabbath and new moons for religious worship (2 Kings 4:23; 1 Samuel 10:5–11). The people would soon see the necessity of providing convenient places for their services, to shelter them from storms and heat; this was probably the origin of synagogues.

It is unknown at what time they began. They are mentioned by Josephus a considerable time before the coming of Christ, and in his time they multiplied, not only in Judea but wherever there were Jews. There were at least 480 in Jerusalem alone before it was taken by the Romans.

Synagogues were built in elevated places—in any place where ten men were found who were willing to associate for this purpose—and were the regular, customary places of worship.

In them, the Law (that is, the Old Testament), divided into suitable portions, was read; prayers were offered; and the Scriptures were expounded. The Law was divided so that the five books of Moses and portions of the prophets could be read through each year.

After being read, the Scriptures were expounded. This was done either by the officers of the synagogues or by any person who might be invited to do so by the officiating minister. Our Savior and the apostles were in the habit of constantly attending these places and speaking to the people (Luke 4:15–27; Acts 13:14–15).

The synagogues were built in imitation of the temple, with a center building, supported by pillars, and a court surrounding it. See Barnes on Matthew 21:12.

In the center building, or chapel, was a place prepared for the reading of the Law. The Law was kept in a chest, or ark, near the pulpit. The uppermost seats (Matthew 23:6) were those nearest to the pulpit. The people sat around, facing the pulpit. When the Law was read, the officiating person rose; when it was expounded, he was seated. Our Savior imitated their example and was commonly seated when addressing the people (Matthew 5:1; Matthew 13:1).

Teaching. Instructing the people, or explaining the gospel.

The Gospel of the kingdom. The good news respecting the kingdom that He was about to establish; or the good news respecting the coming of the Messiah and the nature of His kingdom.

Preaching. See Matthew 3:1.

All manner of sickness. All kinds of sickness.

Gospel of the Kingdom: Matthew 24:14; Mark 1:14.

Manner of disease: Psalms 103:3; Matthew 8:16–17.