Matthew 4:12

Preaching in Galilee

4:12 Now when Jesus ¹  heard that John had been imprisoned, ²  he went into Galilee.

Matthew 11:2

Jesus and John the Baptist

11:2 Now when John ³  heard in prison about the deeds Christ ⁴  had done, he sent his disciples to ask a question: ⁵ 

Matthew 14:2

14:2 and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead! And because of this, miraculous powers are at work in him.”

Luke 3:20

3:20 Herod added this to them all: He locked up John in prison.

John 3:22-24

Further Testimony About Jesus by John the Baptist

3:22 After this, ⁶  Jesus and his disciples came into Judean territory, and there he spent time with them and was baptizing. 3:23 John ⁷  was also baptizing at Aenon near Salim, ⁸  because water was plentiful there, and people were coming ⁹  to him ¹⁰  and being baptized. 3:24 (For John had not yet been thrown into prison.) ¹¹ 

[4:12]  ¹ tn Grk “he.”

[4:12]  ² tn Or “arrested,” “taken into custody” (see L&N 37.12).

[11:2]  ³ sn John refers to John the Baptist.

[11:2]  ⁴ tc The Western codex D and a few other mss (0233 1424 al) read “Jesus” here instead of “Christ.” This is not likely to be original because it is not found in the earliest and most important mss, nor in the rest of the ms tradition.

[11:2]  ⁵ tc Instead of “by his disciples” (see the tn below for the reading of the Greek), the majority of later mss (C³ L ˹ Ï lat bo) have “two of his disciples.” The difference in Greek, however, is only two letters: διὰ τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ vs. δύο τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ (dia twn maqhtwn autou vs. duo twn maqhtwn autou). Although an accidental alteration could account for either of these readings, it is more likely that δύο is an assimilation to the parallel in Luke 7:18. Further, διά is read by a good number of early and excellent witnesses (א B C* D P W Z Δ Θ 0233 ˹³ 33 sa), and thus should be considered original.

[3:22]  ⁶ tn This section is related loosely to the preceding by μετὰ ταῦτα (meta tauta). This constitutes an indefinite temporal reference; the intervening time is not specified.

[3:23]  ⁷ sn John refers to John the Baptist.

[3:23]  ⁸ tn The precise locations of Αἰνών (Ainwn) and Σαλείμ (Saleim) are unknown. Three possibilities are suggested: (1) In Perea, which is in Transjordan (cf. 1:28). Perea is just across the river from Judea. (2) In the northern Jordan Valley, on the west bank some 8 miles [13 km] south of Scythopolis. But with the Jordan River so close, the reference to abundant water (3:23) seems superfluous. (3) Thus Samaria has been suggested. 4 miles (6.6 km) east of Shechem is a town called Salim, and 8 miles (13 km) northeast of Salim lies modern Ainun. In the general vicinity are many springs. Because of the meanings of the names (Αἰνών = “springs” in Aramaic and Σαλείμ = Salem, “peace”) some have attempted to allegorize here that John the Baptist is near salvation. Obviously there is no need for this. It is far more probable that the author has in mind real places, even if their locations cannot be determined with certainty.

[3:23]  ⁹ tn Or “people were continually coming.”

[3:23]  ¹⁰ tn The words “to him” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.

[3:24]  ¹¹ sn This is a parenthetical note by the author.