Section 4:12–17

Jesus began preaching in Galilee

After Jesus’ temptation, he left the district of Judea and went to his home in the town of Nazareth, which is in the district of Galilee (2:22–23). Later he moved from Nazareth to the town of Capernaum (4:12–13).

In this section, Matthew again showed how Jesus’ life fulfilled the words of a prophet (4:14–16). This section shows that the main idea that Jesus preached in this early part of his work was: “Turn away from your sins, because the kingdom of heaven is near” (4:17 in the Good News Translation).

Here are some other headings for this section:

Jesus began his work in Galilee
-or-
The ministry of Jesus began

There are brief parallel passages for this section in Luke 4:14–15 and Mark 1:14–15.

Paragraph 4:12–16

In this paragraph, Matthew told his readers how Jesus fulfilled one of Isaiah’s prophecies. He returned to the province of Galilee and moved to the town of Capernaum.

4:12a

When Jesus heard that John had been imprisoned: This clause tells us the setting of Jesus’ move from Judea to Galilee. Some English versions begin this clause with the word “Now.”

The Greek text does not indicate how much time passed between the events of 4:1–11 and 4:12. So you should begin this clause with a general time expression. For example:

Afterward, Jesus heard that…
-or-
Later, Jesus heard that…
-or-
At the time that Jesus heard that…

Jesus heard: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Jesus is literally “he.” The pronoun refers to Jesus. Matthew does not say how Jesus heard about John the Baptist’s situation. It is likely that someone told him that John was in prison.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

When someone told Jesus
-or-
Then Jesus learned that

John: The name John refers to John the Baptist. If this will not be clear to your readers, you may use the same name/title as you did in 3:1a.

had been imprisoned: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as had been imprisoned literally means “was given/handed over.” Some versions translate this verb by focusing on the fact that he:

(a) had been arrested.

Other versions translate this verb by focusing on the fact that he:

(b) had been put in prison.

Both are true. You may use either or both expressions, depending on what is natural in your language.

This verb is also passive. Some ways to translate it are:

• As a passive. For example:

had been arrested and put in prison ⌊by the authorities⌋

• As an active. For example:

people/they arrested John and put him in prison
-or-

⌊King Herod⌋ had put John in prison
-or-

⌊Herod⌋ ordered his soldiers to arrest John

4:12b

He withdrew: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as withdrew means “went back” or “returned.” Jesus left the district of Judea and went back to Galilee.

Jesus had been in the district of Galilee. That is where his home was. Then he went to the district of Judea where John baptized him. He was still in Judea when the devil tempted him. When he heard about John the Baptist, he went back to Galilee.

Here are some other ways to translate this verb:

went back (God’s Word)
-or-
went (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
he left Judea and returned (New Living Translation (2004))

to Galilee: The noun Galilee is the name of a district or area in the north part of Israel. See the note on “the district of Galilee” at 2:22d for more information.

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