Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 9:1

"And he entered into a boat, and crossed over, and came into his own city." — Matthew 9:1 (ASV)

It is unclear whether this verse ties in more closely with 8:28–34 or with 9:2–8. The problem is not just academic, for the preceding pericope is almost certainly chronologically later (cf. Mark 5:1–20) than this one (cf. Mark 2:2–12); and a break more easily fits between 9:1 and 9:2 than between 8:34 and 9:1. Begged to leave (8:34), Jesus embarked in the boat he had so recently left and returned to “his own town,” namely, Capernaum (4:13), on the western shore of the lake.