They were astonished at his teaching

“Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee. He taught them on the sabbath,
and they were astonished at his teaching because he spoke with authority.” (LK 4: 31-32)  

We can only imagine how it was when “He taught them on the sabbath”; how He spoke, what He looked like, how He presented Himself. They were astonished “because he spoke with authority”: He is the Word, and He proclaimed the Good News, the Gospel, as an author!

“A great prophet has arisen in our midst and God has visited his people.” (Gospel Acclamation)