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Preaching in Galilee

12 Now when Jesus[a] heard that John[b] had been imprisoned,[c] he went into Galilee. 13 While in Galilee, he moved from Nazareth to make his home in Capernaum[d] by the sea,[e] in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah would be fulfilled:[f]

15 Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
the way[g] by the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light,
and on those who sit in the region and shadow of death a light has dawned.”[h]

17 From that time Jesus began to preach this message:[i] “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near!”

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 4:12 tn Grk “he.”
  2. Matthew 4:12 sn A reference to John the Baptist.
  3. Matthew 4:12 tn Or “arrested,” “taken into custody” (see L&N 37.12).
  4. Matthew 4:13 tn Grk “and leaving Nazareth, he came and took up residence in Capernaum.” sn Capernaum was a town located on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee, about 680 ft (207 m) below sea level. It existed since Hasmonean times and was a major trade and economic center in the North Galilean region. The population in the first century is estimated to be around 1,500. Capernaum became the hub of operations for Jesus’ Galilean ministry (Matt 4:13; Mark 2:1). In modern times the site was discovered in 1838 by the American explorer E. Robinson, and major excavations began in 1905 by German archaeologists H. Kohl and C. Watzinger. Not until 1968, however, were remains from the time of Jesus visible; in that year V. Corbo and S. Loffreda began a series of annual archaeological campaigns that lasted until 1985. This work uncovered what is thought to be the house of Simon Peter as well as ruins of the first century synagogue beneath the later synagogue from the fourth or fifth century A.D. Today gently rolling hills and date palms frame the first century site, a favorite tourist destination of visitors to the Galilee.
  5. Matthew 4:13 tn Or “by the lake.”sn By the sea refers to the Sea of Galilee.
  6. Matthew 4:14 tn The redundant participle λέγοντος (legontos) has not been translated here.
  7. Matthew 4:15 tn Or “road.”
  8. Matthew 4:16 sn A quotation from Isa 9:1.
  9. Matthew 4:17 tn Grk “to preach and to say.” The second of the two Greek infinitives (“to say”) is redundant in English and is not included in the translation.

Jesus Begins Work in Galilee(A)

12 When Jesus heard that John had been ·put in prison [arrested], he ·went back [withdrew] to Galilee. 13 He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum, ·a town near Lake Galilee [L by the sea], in the ·area near [region of] Zebulun and Naphtali [C two northern tribes of Israel]. 14 Jesus did this to ·bring about [fulfill] what the prophet Isaiah had said:

15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali
    ·along [on the road by; L the way of] the sea,
beyond the Jordan River.
    ·This is Galilee where the Gentiles live [L Galilee of the Gentiles/nations].
16 These people who ·live [dwell; sit] in darkness
    ·will see [L have seen] a great light.
And on those ·living [dwelling; sitting] in ·a place covered with the shadows of death [a land overshadowed by death; L a/the region and shadow of death],
    a light ·will shine [L has dawned] on them [Is. 9:1–2].”

Jesus Chooses Some Followers(B)

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “·Change your hearts and lives [Repent], because the kingdom of heaven is ·near [at hand].”

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