Event New Testament
The rejection at Nazareth
Also known as Jesus reads Isaiah in the synagogue
In the synagogue of His hometown Jesus read Isaiah's words about the Spirit-anointed preacher of good news and declared the Scripture fulfilled that day. The people marveled, then took offense at the carpenter's son, and in Luke's account tried to throw Him from the hill on which the town was built.
Why it matters. Jesus announced His mission in Isaiah's words and met the pattern the prophets knew: a prophet without honor in his own town.
- Primary passages
- Witnesses
Chronology confidence: low
Luke places the Nazareth synagogue scene at the opening of the Galilean ministry and records the Isaiah reading and the attempt to throw Jesus from the hill; Matthew and Mark place a rejection at Nazareth later, after the parables. Whether these are one visit or two is debated, so chronology confidence is low.
- Last reviewed
- 2026-08-30 by the FaithGraph team
Connections
The Samaritan woman at the well precedes The rejection at Nazareth
Explicit in ScriptureLow confidenceJohn's return to Galilee and Luke's return in the power of the Spirit are commonly read as the same journey, after which Luke records Nazareth.
Evidence:Other responsible views
- Two visits to Nazareth: Matthew and Mark place a rejection at Nazareth after the parables, so the Nazareth scene may belong later or may have happened twice.
Jesus participates in The rejection at Nazareth
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceJesus reads Isaiah in the Nazareth synagogue and is driven out of the town.
Evidence:The rejection at Nazareth occurs at Nazareth
Explicit in ScriptureHigh confidenceLuke names Nazareth, and Mark calls it His hometown.
The rejection at Nazareth explicitly fulfills Isaiah 61:1-2
Explicit fulfillmentHigh confidenceJesus says that the Scripture He has just read is fulfilled in the hearing of the synagogue.
Evidence: