7:1 After Jesus 1 had finished teaching all this to the people, 2 he entered Capernaum. 3
1 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
2 tn Grk “After he had completed all his sayings in the hearing of the people.”
3 sn Capernaum was a town on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee, 680 ft (204 m) below sea level. It was a major trade and economic center in the North Galilean region.
map For location see Map1-D2; Map2-C3; Map3-B2.
4 sn The figure of the baptism is variously interpreted, as some see a reference (1) to martyrdom or (2) to inundation with God’s judgment. The OT background, however, suggests the latter sense: Jesus is about to be uniquely inundated with God’s judgment as he is rejected, persecuted, and killed (Ps 18:4, 16; 42:7; 69:1-2; Isa 8:7-8; 30:27-28; Jonah 2:3-6).
5 tn Grk “to be baptized with.”