Sitting to Preach

In the first century Jewish culture, a reader of Scripture would stand while reading, to show the authority of Scripture.

Only an authoritative teacher would take the "cathedra" ("seat", as in "Seat of Moses"; also as in how Catholics talk about "the Pope" (*cough*) speaking 'ex cathedra', "from the Seat" of authority) to then expound upon the reading.

The synagogue attendees went silent when they realized Jesus declared himself as just such an authority.

Luke 4:16 He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. He entered, as was his custom, into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 The book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. He opened the book, and found the place where it was written,

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim release to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, to deliver those who are crushed, 19 and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

20 He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began to tell them, “Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

And in another city:

Mark 1:21 They went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught. 22 They were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as having authority, and not as the scribes.