Charles Spurgeon Commentary Luke 4:20

"And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down: and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him." — Luke 4:20 (ASV)

And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

The young Nazarene, who had left them for a while, and had come home again, was the center of his fellow-townsmen's attention.

And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down.

In those days, the preacher sat down, and those who listened stood up. I dare say that practice tended to keep the hearers awake, and it was all the easier for the speaker. Well might the Savior sit down, weighted as he was with a burden of holy instruction that he was about to impart to the people; or, perhaps, sitting down as if he himself were at rest, he appeared all the more ready to give rest to them also.

And he gave it again, to the minister, and sat down.

Their practice was to sit down to speak, while the people usually stood to hear; a very good custom, indeed. If we did the same, perhaps we should have fewer of our hearers going to sleep.

And he closed the book,
Rolled up the sacred writing, –