Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

4:12 John had been arrested. Jesus returns to Galilee amid a gathering storm over the imprisonment of John the Baptist by Herod Antipas, one of the sons of Herod the Great (cf. 11:2; 14:1-12; see Jewish and Roman Rulers).

4:13 Capernaum, on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee (see note on Mark 1:21), will remain Jesus' base of operations and his new hometown for the duration of his ministry in Galilee.

4:16 darkness . . . light. The region of Zebulun and Naphtali (v. 13) had experienced turmoil under Assyrian domination (2 Kings 15:29) and the Jewish inhabitants had longed for liberation from Gentile rule. They are now the first to see the great light of God's deliverance in Jesus.

4:17 From that time marks a significant turning point in Matthew's narrative (cf. 16:21), indicating that the preparations for Jesus' messianic ministry are complete. Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Jesus' message builds on that of John the Baptist (see note on 3:2).

4:18-22 Peter, James, and John will become the inner circle among Jesus' 12 disciples.

4:18-19 two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew. These brothers had been followers of Jesus for about a year (cf. John 1:35-42) but apparently had returned for a time to their normal work. casting a net into the sea. A circular cast net, 20-25 feet (6.1-7.6 m) in diameter with lead sinkers attached to the outer edge, enveloped fish as it sank. Follow me. Jesus calls them to abandon their ordinary occupations (Matt. 4:20) and accompany him full-time.

4:21 A boat, dated from around or before the first century a.d. by radiocarbon analysis and associated pottery, was found in the Sea of Galilee south of Kibbutz Ginnosar in 1986 (see Galilean Fishing Boat). It is consistent with boat representations in mosaics from Migdal/Magdala (also on the Sea of Galilee). Approximately 26.5 feet long and 7.5 feet wide (8 by 2.3 m), it could hold about 15 people (including four rowers and a helmsman). It probably had both fore and aft decks and a central mast and sail, with positions for two sets of oars on both sides.

4:22 left the boat and their father. They relinquished commitment to the family business and their livelihood to join Jesus' messianic mission.

4:23 The Galilee region had a population of about 300,000 in 200 or more villages and towns, with no major cities in the area. Jesus' ministry included teaching disciples and those already familiar with his message, proclaiming truth to those unfamiliar with the message, and healing physical, emotional, and spiritual infirmities. Healing of every disease and every affliction gives an amazing foretaste of the age to come, where there will be no more disease (1 Cor. 15:42-43; Phil. 3:21; Rev. 21:4). Jesus combined ministry that met people's physical needs with ministry to their minds and hearts (proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom). On synagogues, see note on Luke 4:16 and The Synagogue and Jewish Worship.

4:24 Syria. A Gentile region north of Galilee, between Damascus and the Mediterranean Sea.

4:25 The great crowds that followed Jesus had responded in some sense to his teaching and healing ministry but had not yet become his disciples (cf. 5:1). Decapolis (Gk. "ten cities") is the Roman and generally Gentile district to the south and east of the Sea of Galilee. Beyond the Jordan commonly referred to the region of Perea, or more generally the territory east of the Jordan River.