Question
Gramps,
Did you need to be called by someone in the synagogue in order to teach? How was it possible for Jesus to teach whenever he entered?
Love and blessings,
Paul
Answer
Dear Paul,
In the New Testament period, synagogue worship was subject to a number of authorities, including elders, shepherd, other rulers, and “Archisynagogos”, or chief ruler. Each particular worship service was officiated by a delegate of the congregation who was selected by the chief ruler. The delegate would open the service with various benedictions and recitations. Priests and Levites would then read portions of the law. Following that, a section of the Prophets was read in Hebrew with an interpreter to recite it in the common tongue. Finally a sermon was given by a preacher. The delegate would often serve as the preacher and would also read the section of the Prophets. If there was a popular preacher or Rabbi traveling through a town, the chief ruler of the synagogue would invite him to officiate and preach at the Sabbath service (ordination was not required for this).
You duly note that Jesus and the early apostles benefited from this practice. If you would like to read more the first century synagogues, I recommend Alfred Edersheim’s “The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah”, book 3, chapter 10.
Gramps
