43 Grk “They.”
44 Jesus’ teaching impressed the hearers with the directness of its claim; he taught with authority. A study of Jewish rabbinic interpretation shows that it was typical to cite a list of authorities to make one’s point. Apparently Jesus addressed the issues in terms of his own understanding.
45 Or “the scribes.” The traditional rendering of γραμματεύς (grammateus) as “scribe” does not communicate much to the modern English reader, for whom the term might mean “professional copyist,” if it means anything at all. The people referred to here were recognized experts in the law of Moses and in traditional laws and regulations. Thus “expert in the law” comes closer to the meaning for the modern reader.

In other versions

And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.

The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.

They were astonished at his teaching because he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not like the scribes.

The people were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike the teachers of religious law.

And they were amazed at his teaching, because he was teaching them like one who had authority, and not like the scribes.

And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.

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