[terycarl]

Plus, it was IMPORTANT to the Jews at least, to be able to read God's word.

just where did they, the lay peopple, lay hands on a written copy of scripture????

[jjotto]

Jews since Moses have widely circulated manuscripts, letters and public or private notes, as is easily seen in the sheer number of ‘genizahs’ found everywhere in the Jewish world.

[CynicalBear]

>>just where did they, the lay peopple, lay hands on a written copy of scripture????<<

That same place these people did.

John 5:39 Ye search the Writings, because ye think in them to have life age-during, and these are they that are testifying concerning me;

And these people

Act 17:11 and these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, they received the word with all readiness of mind, every day examining the Writings whether those things were so;

[metmom]

just where did they, the lay peopple, lay hands on a written copy of scripture????

In the synagogue.

And do you disallow that some of them may have had their own copies?