22:33a

And when the crowd heard it: The phrase the crowd is more literally “the crowds” (as in the New International Version). The pronoun it refers to Jesus’ answer to the Sadducees’ question. Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

When the crowds heard this (Good News Translation)
-or-
When the crowds heard how Jesus answered

22:33b

they were astonished at his teaching: In Greek, the verb that the English Standard Version translates as were astonished is passive.

Here are some ways to translate this clause:

• Use a passive verb. For example:

they were amazed at/by his teaching

• Use an active verb. For example:

his teaching amazed them
-or-
the way he taught amazed them

they were astonished: The Greek verb that the English Standard Version translates as were astonished means that the crowds were filled with amazement to the point of being overcome.

Here are some other ways to translate this verb:

they were amazed (New Century Version)
-or-
were surprised (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
were astounded (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

at his teaching: It is possible that the word teaching is a general reference to all that Jesus taught in general. But it most likely refers to Jesus’ answer to the Sadducees in this instance.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

at the way he taught

-or-

by the way he answered

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