Expositor's Bible Commentary 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)

We now have a description of the synagogue procedure. Jesus hands back the scroll to the “attendant,” who had the sacred duty of handling the revered scroll. After this was replaced in its cabinet or ark, the reader took the customary sitting position for instructive comments on the passage. Luke begins to record the response of the congregation, which is at first intense attention and ultimately hostility. The phrase “eyes... were fastened” denotes intense emotion (cf. Acts 1:10; 7:55).