Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 4:12

"Now when he heard that John was delivered up, he withdrew into Galilee;" — Matthew 4:12 (ASV)

John the Baptist’s imprisonment (likely in the fortress of Machaerus) appears to have prompted Jesus to return to Galilee. Though Jesus began his ministry in Judea concurrent with John the Baptist (see Jn 1:19–3:21), the Synoptics start with his ministry in Galilee after John’s imprisonment. Why the Judean ministry is ignored is unknown, though perhaps it was because the imprisonment marked the end of the forerunner’s ministry. Furthermore, especially for Matthew, Galilee is of profound significance because it heralds the fulfillment of prophecy (vv.14–16) and points to the Gospel’s extension to “all nations” (28:19).