Mat 4:13-16 | RWP | e4.org | Dwelt in Capernaum ( Κατωικησεν εις Καφαρναουμ ). He went first to Nazareth, his old home, but was rejected there ( ). In Capernaum (probably the modern Τελλ Hυμ ) Jesus was in a large town, one of the centres of Galilean political and commercial life, a fishing mart, where many Gentiles came. Here the message of the kingdom would have a better chance than in Jerusalem with its ecclesiastical prejudices or in Nazareth with its local jealousies. So Jesus "made his home" ( κατωικησεν ) here.

‏ Matthew 4:13-16

Dwelt in Capernaum ( Κατωικησεν εις Καφαρναουμ ). He went first to Nazareth, his old home, but was rejected there (Lu 4:16-31). In Capernaum (probably the modern Τελλ Hυμ ) Jesus was in a large town, one of the centres of Galilean political and commercial life, a fishing mart, where many Gentiles came. Here the message of the kingdom would have a better chance than in Jerusalem with its ecclesiastical prejudices or in Nazareth with its local jealousies. So Jesus "made his home" ( κατωικησεν ) here.

Saw a great light ( φως ειδεν μεγα ). Matthew quotes Isa 9:1f., and applies the words about the deliverer from Assyria to the Messiah. "The same district lay in spiritual darkness and death and the new era dawned when Christ went thither" (McNeile). Light sprang up from those who were sitting in the region and shadow of death ( εν χορα κα σκια θανατου ). Death is personified.