Bible Strands
Matthew 4:12
When Jesus heard that John had been imprisoned, He withdrew to Galilee.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative places Jesus acting immediately after the temptation sequence concludes and angels minister to Him, before He relocates to Capernaum. He responds to news of John’s confinement by departing the region.
The words — ἀνεχώρησεν (anechōrēsen) literally means "He withdrew," denoting a deliberate physical departure. Ἀκούσας (Akousas) translates as "Having heard," identifying the specific trigger for His movement.
The thread — This withdrawal aligns with the Galilean proclamation in Mark 1:14 and follows the arrest detailed in Luke 3:20 and Matthew 14:3. The sequence marks the chronological and ministerial transition from John’s imprisonment to Jesus’ public work.
Why it lands — The text requires recognition that Jesus responds to political pressure with strategic relocation rather than immediate confrontation. It demands a reader observe the deliberate pacing of divine action in response to external threats.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;
Cross-references
- Mark 1:14 After the arrest of John, Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospel of God.
- Luke 3:20 Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.
- Matthew 14:3 Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,
- Luke 4:14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and the news about Him spread throughout the surrounding region.
- Mark 6:17 For Herod himself had ordered that John be arrested and bound and imprisoned, on account of his brother Philip’s wife Herodias, whom Herod had married.
- John 3:24 (For John had not yet been thrown into prison.)
- Luke 4:31 Then He went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath He began to teach the people.
- John 4:43 After two days, Jesus left for Galilee.
- John 4:54 This was now the second sign that Jesus performed after coming from Judea into Galilee.