A word meaning literally “a gathering together”. In the NT it sometimes refers to a group of Jews meeting for worship but most often to the building in which they met.
Synagogue worship may have begun during the exile
Ezekiel 14:1 Unable to sacrifice in the temple, the community met together with spiritual leaders. See also Ezekiel 20:1
Then some of the elders of Israel came and sat down before me.
A synagogue might be established anywhere
Mark 1:21 See also Acts 6:9 in JerusalemActs 16:12–13, Acts 16:16 Acts 17:1, Acts 17:10, Acts 18:19
Then Jesus and His companions went to Capernaum, and right away Jesus entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and began to teach.
The role of the synagogue
It was a focus for prayer and the reading of Scripture
Acts 13:15 See also Nehemiah 8:2–8, Nehemiah 9:3; Luke 4:15–33
After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue leaders sent word to them: “Brothers, if you have a word of encouragement for the people, please speak.”
It was a centre for community affairs
Matthew 10:17; Mark 13:9; Luke 12:11
Exclusion from the synagogue was used as a punishment
The leading of synagogue worship
It was the responsibility of the synagogue ruler
Qualified laymen were allowed to teach
Luke 4:16 See also Acts 13:15
Then Jesus came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. As was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath. And when He stood up to read,
Attendance at the synagogue
It was the practice of Jesus Christ
Matthew 9:35 See also Mark 6:2; Luke 4:16; John 6:59
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness.
It was the practice of Paul and other Jewish Christians
Acts 9:19–20 See also Acts 14:1–2, Acts 17:2, Acts 19:8
and after taking some food, he regained his strength. And he spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. Saul promptly began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, declaring, “He is the Son of God.”
The first Christians continued to worship in the synagogues
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.