Matthew 4:17 - Exposition

The proclamation. From that time ; ἀπὸ τότε (elsewhere in the New Testament only Matthew 16:21 ; Matthew 26:16 ; Luke 16:16 ); i.e. from the time of his residence in Capernaum ( Matthew 4:13 ). Apparently our Lord, after the baptism, went to John ( vide supra , verse 1), then retired to Galilee, going first to Nazareth, then finally leaving it as his home for Capernaum. At Caper-nauru his public activity begins. From that time ; the phrase expresses not merely "at that time," but "from that time," as the starting-point. Henceforth this was to be his message, even though its form might be altered. The phrase marks, as in Matthew 16:21 , the commencement of a new stage in his life. His earlier work with John the Baptist is not included in the oral Gospel, probably because the twelve were not yet joined to him in formal and continuous adhesion. Repent , etc. His words are exactly the same as the Baptist's ( Matthew 3:2 ), with whom, indeed, he had been very lately associated. There is no evidence that he meant by them anything else than the Baptist meant. It is very intelligible that quite early (Old Syriac) an attempt should be made to harmonize this summary of his preaching rather with that of his disciples ( Matthew 10:7 ).