Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 3:5

"Then went out unto him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about the Jordan;" — Matthew 3:5 (ASV)

Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,

There seems to have been, about that time, a widespread anticipation of the coming of the Messiah; so, no sooner did the news come that a prophet was preaching in the desert, than great multitudes went out to hear him.