Matthew Poole and continuators on Mark 1:22

22 And they were astonished at his doctrine, for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.

We heard before that the Synagogues were much of the Nature of our Parish Churches, places where People ordinarily met together on the Sabbath days, to Worshp God by Prayer, and reading the Law and the Prophets, and he[illegible: 1 letter]ring the Words of Exhortation, from such as the Rulers of the Synagogues appointed thereunto. Christ ordinarily Preached in them. The Evangelists often mention, the Peoples admiring, being amazed, and astonished at his Doctrine, but it is one thing for People to be astonished, and amazed, at a new Doctrine, and to admire the Preacher, another thing to believe; we read amongst the Jews, of many that were affected at the hearing of Christ, with astonishment, and admiration, but of few that believed in him, for he taught them as one that had Authority. A small derivative from this, is yet seen in the Gravity, awful presence, and Authority, (which as a great gift of God) we see still given to some faithful Ministers of Christ, such especially as God maketh a more eminent use of in the conversion of Souls. But this great Preacher had the Spirit above humane measure, not as the Scribes, the ordinary teachers of the Jews, who read their lectures of the Law, but so coldly, and without Life, and Power, as the hearts of the People were not at all affected with them, no more then with the dull telling a tale, with which neither the tellers, nor hearers were much affected.

Marginal references: Matth. 7.2[illegible: 1 letter] ▪ 29.