It is clear from Johnson's description of the traditional procedure in the synagogue that the president selected a reader to read the scriptures after which any Jewish theological teacher present including the reader could speak.

The synagogue is so often named in the New Testament that one ought to clearly understand its character. It corresponded to the Christian congregation. Wherever ten Jews were found it was their duty to form a synagogue. It had its elders, of whom the president was called the "ruler" of the synagogue. The ruler presided over the worship, and all the elders sat on raised seats. These were "the chief seats" that the Pharisees liked to sit in. There was a set lesson from the Scriptures for each Sabbath, for they were read in order. The reader was appointed by the ruler and might be any member. On one occasion we learn that Jesus was the reader. After the reading and prayers there was an opportunity for any Jewish theological teacher to speak.

The passage from Luke is used by King and others as both the foundation point of reader ministry and for arguing that Jesus himself was the first Christian reader. Whilst it is clear that the task of reading scripture is recorded within scripture, it is difficult to see the hermeneutical process which would allow Jesus to be considered the first Christian reader because Jesus is Christ not a disciple of Christ, secondly Jesus operated in the synagogue as a Jew and thirdly the Christian Reader could only emerge once the uniquely Christian documents emerged within Christian worship.