Matthew 4:12-13

The word "withdrew" (NASB) or "returned" (NIV; Gr. anachoreo) is significant. Evidently Jesus wanted to get away from Israel’s religious leaders in Jerusalem who opposed John (John 4:1-3; John 5:1-16). It is unlikely that Herod Antipas would have imprisoned John if the religious authorities had supported John. Matthew used the same Greek word, paredothe ("to be taken into custody"), later when he described Jesus’ arrest (Matthew 26:15-16; Matthew 26:21; Matthew 26:23; Matthew 26:25; Matthew 27:3-4). The religious leaders evidently played a significant role in both arrests.

To Matthew, Galilee had great significance for two reasons. First, it was the place where Isaiah had predicted Messiah would minister (Isaiah 9:1). Second, since it was an area where many Gentiles lived, it corroborated Messiah’s influence over the nations as well as Israel.

Jesus moved the base of His ministry from Nazareth to Capernaum (Matthew 4:13). Matthew described it as he did in view of the prophecy that Jesus’ residence there fulfilled (Matthew 4:15-16). This town stood on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 14:34). It was the town where Peter, Andrew, James, and John (the fishermen) and Matthew (the tax collector) worked (Matthew 8:14; Matthew 9:9). Estimates of its population in the first century range from 1,000 to 15,000. [Note: See France, The Gospel . . ., p. 141.]

"If Joseph settled in Nazareth after the return from Egypt (Matthew 2:22-23), Jesus now leaves Nazareth and moves to Capernaum (Matthew 4:12-13), which becomes ’his own city’ (Matthew 9:1). He is thus poised to begin his public ministry." [Note: Kinsgbury, p. 57.]