Matthew 3:1

ἐν δὲ ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις : the time when most vaguely indicated. Luke's narrative here (Matthew 3:1) presents a great contrast, as if with conscious intent to supply a want. John's ministry is there dated with reference to the general history of the world, and Christ's age at His baptism is given. Luke's method is more satisfactory in a historical point of view, but Matthew's manner of narration is dramatically effective. He passes abruptly to the new theme, and leaves you to guess the length of the interval. A similarly indefinite phrase occurs in the story of Moses (Exodus 2:11). There has been much discussion as to what period of time the evangelist had in view. Some say none, except that of the events to be related. “In those days,” means simply, “in the days when the following events happened” (so Euthy. Zig.). Others suggest explanations based on the relation of our Gospel to its sources, e.g., use of a source in which more was told about John, or anticipation of Mark 1:9, where the phrase is used in reference to Christ's coming to be baptised. Probably the best course is to take it as referring back from the apostolic age to the great creative epoch of the evangelic history = “In those memorable years to which we look back with wistful reverent gaze”. παραγίνεται ὁ Ι.: John appears on the stage of history historical present, used “to give a more animated statement of past events” (Goodwin's Syntax, p. 11). John ὁ βαπτιστής, well known by this epithet, and referred to under that designation by Josephus (Antiq., xviii. 5, 2, on which vide Schürer; Jewish History, div. i., vol. ii., p. 23). Its currency naturally suggests that John's baptism was partly or wholly an originality, not to be confounded with proselyte baptism, which perhaps did not even exist at that time. κηρύσσων, preaching, as well as baptising, heralding the approach of the Kingdom of Heaven, standing especially in N. T. for proclamation of the good news of God, distinct from διδάσκων (Matthew 4:23): a solemn word for a momentous matter. ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ τ. Ἰουδαίας : scene of the ministry, the pasture lands lying between the central range of hills and the Jordan and the Dead Sea, not all belonging to Judaea, but of the same character; suitable scene for such a ministry.