35.1 "Now when Jesus heard that John the Baptist had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee."
Mathew 4:12
35.2 John the Baptist (whom Jesus called the greatest of all the prophets), was put in prison for preaching righteousness. Luke tells the story:
"But Herod the Tetrarch (Herod Antipas -- ruler of the provinces of Galilee and Perea), being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, his brother Phillip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, also added this, above all, that he shut John up in prison." Luke 3:19-20
35.3 Herod Antipas was one of Herod the Great's sons. (see "House of Herod") Like his father he was a ruthless ruler, and also a great builder. He built the city of Tiberias on the shores of lake Galilee in honor of Tiberius Caesar, the emporer of the Roman Empire. He also built a castle/fort at Machaerus -- in Perea near the northern end of the Dead Sea. John the Baptist was imprisoned at Machaerus because he had preached against Herod's adultery with his brother Phillip's wife -- Herodias.
35.4 John the Baptist's imprisonment had to be a defining event in Jesus' life. Until then there had been two prophetic voices in Israel, announcing Jesus as the Messiah -- Jesus' and John's. Now there was only one voice, for John's had been "shut-up" in prison. John was Jesus' best friend, cousin, and co-worker. He was Jesus' forerunner -- the man who had prepared the way. Bible students point out that John ministered only along the Jordan river, never in Nazareth -- and that may be one of the reasons for Jesus' rejection there. But there was a place where Jesus would be welcome. Capernaum was a quiet little fishing village tucked away in a peaceful corner of Palestine. Some of John the Baptist's disciples lived there: Peter, Andrew, James, and John. Phillip and Nathaniel lived nearby. These six had already started following Jesus. It made sense that Jesus would move to the town where they lived.
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