Matthew 4:12-17

Jesus Announces the Kingdom in Galilee (Mark 1:14 f.*, Luke 4:14 f.) More precisely than Mk., Mt. gives John's arrest by Herod Antipas as the reason why Jesus began to preach. Galilee was part of Antipas-' realm, but it was remote from the scene of John's work and imprisonment, hence perhaps the word withdrew. Mt. anticipates Jesus'settlement at Capernaum in his desire to work in a fulfilment of one of his Messianic testimonia. Galilee (lit. the district) of the nations was a tract in the old tribal territory of Naphtali, which had a large heathen population. It gave its name to the larger (NT) Galilee. Isaiah 9:1 f.*.

Matthew 4:13. Capernaum: either the modern Khâ n Minyeh or (more probably) Tell Hû m, close to the northernmost point of the Lake of Galilee. Cf. p. 29, and Mark 1:21 *. Jesus made it his own city (Matthew 9:1).

Matthew 4:17. From that time: cf. Matthew 16:21, where the phrase introduces the period of private instruction to the disciples.