“In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,”
In a hilly country, which was notwithstanding inhabited, for Zechariah dwelt there, Luke 1:40 , and there was Joab’s house, 1 Kings 2:34 ; and besides these, Joshua maketh mention of six towns that were in the wilderness, Josh. 15:62 . Cross references: : Mark 1:4 ; Luke 3:3 John, who through his singular holiness and rare austereness of life caused all men to cast their eyes upon him, prepareth the way for Christ following fast on his heels, as the Prophet Isaiah foretold, and delivereth the sum of the Gospel, which in short space after should be delivered more fully. Not when Joseph went to dwell at Nazareth, but a great while after, about the space of 15 years: for in the 30 year of his age was Jesus baptized of John: therefore by those days is meant, at that time that Jesus remained as yet an inhabitant of the town of Nazareth.