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LUKE 4:32 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
Luke 4:31Luke 4:33
And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.
They were amazed at his teaching, because his message had authority — the Capernaum amazement at the authority (exousia) of the teaching echoes Mark 1:22. The authority is not the authority of citation and tradition but the authority of the one who speaks what he himself knows. The contrast with the Nazareth rejection is implicit: where Nazareth knew the carpenter's son, Capernaum hears the teacher with authority.

Church Fathers on Luke 4:32

Neither indignation at their treatment, nor displeasure at their wickedness, caused our Lord to abandon Judea, but unmindful of His injuries, and remembering mercy, at one time by teaching, at another by healing, He softens the hearts of this unbelieving people, as it is said, And he went down to Capernaum.

Ambrose · 4th century

For although He knew that they were disobedient and hard of heart, He nevertheless visits them, as a good Physician tries to heal those who are suffering from a mortal disease. But He taught them boldly in the synagogues, as Esaias said, I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth. On the sabbath day also He disputed with them, because they were at leisure. They wondered therefore at the mightiness of His teaching, His virtue, and His power, as it follows, And…

Cyril of Alexandria · 5th century

The word of the teacher is with power, when he performs that which he teaches. But he who by his actions belies what he preaches is despised.

Bede · 8th century
Read all 17 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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